Monitoring and evaluating quality of life for Forestry Commission England

Summary

In 2009, a 3-year fully-funded project was initiated at Forest Research, Farnham England.  Funded by Forestry Commission-England, the project seeks to capture the contribution that trees, woods and forests make to the quality of life of people living and working in the vicinity.

The project is a collaboration between the Forest Research Social and Economic Research Group and Land Regeneration and Urban Greenspace Group and is the first major impacts appraisal project within Methuselah.

The project is being undertaken at 3 flagship Forestry sites across England:

• Bentley Community Woodland, Doncaster
• Birches Valley Visitor Centre, Cannock Chase
• Ingrebourne Hill Community Woodland, South Hornchurch London.

Data gathering approach

The project uses 4-pronged approach to data gathering:

• National public opinion of trees, woods, forests survey
• Visitor surveys (conducted on-site at the flagship sites)
• Site management records (using Methuselah site management principles and methodologies)
• Social surveys (conducted by telephone, to population living within a 4-km radius of flagship sites).

Further information

Full information on the monitoring and evaluation work, description of the flagship sites and conclusions are available below:

• Monitoring and Evaluating Quality of Life for CSR 07 - Annual report 2008/9 ^(PDF-5265K)
  • Appendix Report 2008/9 ^(PDF-3277K)
  • Annex 1 - Bentley Community Woodland 2008/9 ^(PDF-2992K)
  • Annex 2 - Birches Valley Forest Centre 2008/9 ^(PDF-3100K)
  • Annex 3 - Ingrebourne Hill Community Woodland 2008/9 ^(PDF-2709K)
• Monitoring and Evaluating Quality of Life for CSR 07 - Annual report 2009/10 ^(PDF-1795K)
  • Annex 1 - Bentley Community Woodland 2009/10 ^(PDF-1162K)
  • Annex 2 - Birches Valley Forest Centre 2009/10 ^(PDF-1919K)
  • Annex 3 - Ingrebourne Hill Community Woodland 2009/10 ^(PDF-1290K)
• Monitoring and Evaluating Quality of Life for CSR 07 - Final report 2008/11 ^(PDF-1196K)
  • Annex 1 - Bentley Community Woodland 2008/11 ^(PDF-338K)
  • Annex 2 - Birches Valley Forest Centre 2008/11 ^(PDF-427K)
  • Annex 3 - Ingrebourne Hill Community Woodland 2008/11 ^(PDF-346K)
  • Annex 4 - Activities and Events in England’s Woodland 2008/11 ^(PDF-179K)

Contact

For more information contact:

Kieron Doick
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey GU10 4LH

Tel: +44(0)1420 526177
Fax: +44(0)1420 520180
Email: kieron.doick@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

or:

Jake Morris
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey GU10 4LH

Tel: +44(0)1420 526201
Fax: +44(0)1420 520180
Email: jake.morris@forestry.gsi.gov.uk