We are proud to announce today a ground-breaking scheme to breathe new life into neglected woodlands, developed by a partnership between the Sylva Foundation, BioRegional and B&Q.

We have teamed up with sustainability charity BioRegional and B&Q to support woodland owners in bringing woodlands into active management. The new scheme is part of B&Q’s One Planet Home programme.  The myForest Service (www.myForest.org.uk) will be central in the project and will support woodland owners in enhancing their woodland for wildlife, helping local communities to enjoy and value their woodlands and encourage the sourcing and supply of local timber from sustainable sources.

The new partnership was endorsed by government yesterday (31 January), when Environment Secretary Owen Paterson published the formal response to the final report of the Independent Panel on Forestry. Within the report (p.17) government said:

“It is important for landowners and businesses to be aware of and understand the interests of their local communities and be willing to work with them wherever possible to their mutual benefit. We welcome B&Q’s recent initiative to help woodland owners engage with their local communities and we encourage others to do the same.”

We will be releasing more information about this major project over coming weeks.

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Press Release: Bringing UK woodlands back to life, 01 February 2013