Woodland by Nathan Millar
Severn Treescapes
Wye to Wyre, connecting nature and people
Severn Treescapes is a Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Wildlife Trusts’ partnership project working across the three counties.
In the midst of the ecological and climate emergencies, Severn Treescapes will demonstrate that increasing woodland connectivity at a regional scale, whether through woodlands, hedgerows, orchards, agroforestry and other tree systems, can work alongside productive agricultural systems.
This work will not only be maintaining productivity but also benefitting biodiversity, tackling the impacts of climate change and sowing the seeds of improvements for future generations to enjoy.
Our ambition
To create a 60-mile corridor of enhanced tree cover to connect two of England’s largest semi-natural woodlands crossing Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.
The corridor will stretch from the Lower Wye Valley and Forest of Dean in the south to the Wyre Forest in the north.
This project will build on remaining pockets of ancient woodland to create a climate resilient landscape, all within 30 miles of the homes of around eight million people.
Helping you
Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Herefordshire Wildlife Trust have partnered up to provide a team of on-the-ground advisors as well as a series of informative events, best practice visits, community engagement opportunities, grants advice and applications assistance.
The team
Advisors
Our advisors are on hand to support land managers, farmers and communities to access funding to plant, grow and manage woodlands and trees across these landscapes. Advice on managing and improving existing woodlands and hedgerows is also available.
For more information about the project in Worcestershire please contact our advisors Simone and Emily.
Community Engagement Coordinator
The project's Community Engagement Coordinator focuses their work with schools and community groups across the project area.
For further information please get in touch with us.
While we might think of the Lower Wye to Wyre landscape being well wooded, after all it contains two of the country’s larger forests, the wider landscape has seen a continued reduction in tree coverage.
Reasons for this include the removal of some traditional orchards and hedgerows, both of which are important habitats, and the loss of many trees and hedgerows due to Dutch elm disease and agricultural intensification. These problems are exacerbated by ash dieback and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.
Find out more in our Treescapes frequently asked questions section.
Some of our projects so far...
Want to know more? Follow the links below:
Severn Treescapes: Dead Wood Society has been funded by Natural England's Species Recovery Programme as part of the UK Government's 'Wild Again: Restoring England's Wildlife' initiative.
Our funders
Severn Treescapes has been funded by a few different funding streams over the years:
- 2022-2025 - Trees Call to Action Fund. This was developed by Defra in partnership with the Forestry Commission and is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Match funding was provided by Gloucestershire County Council, Herefordshire County Council, Worcestershire County Council and Severn Trent. Additional support was provided by the Environment Agency and Ourboretum.
- 2025-2026 - Dead Wood Society was funded thanks to National Lottery players through The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
- 2026-2029 - Severn Treescapes: Dead Wood Society has been funded by Natural England's Species Recovery Programme as part of the UK Government's 'Wild Again: Restoring England's Wildlife' initiative.