During their first 15 years the Community Forests have evolved and developed into leading exponents of environmentally-led regeneration.

How the Community Forests Programme has developed

Three Forests began work in 1990, followed by a further nine over the next two years. Individual Community Forests were constituted as local partnerships between the two national sponsors and the local authorities covering the Forest area.

Community Forests have contributed to the evolution of forestry policy in England from its traditional focus on timber and rural employment to a more multifunctional agenda based on the contribution of woodlands to economic regeneration; rural development; recreation and access; environment and conservation. Community Forests are an important component of the England Forestry Strategy (EFS), will figure strongly in future 'Regional Expressions' of the EFS and play an active role in the England Forestry Forum 

In the wider policy arena Community Forests already make a significant contribution to the Government's vision for urban and rural regeneration and sustainable development, building on the aspirations of the Urban and Rural White Papers and A Better Quality of Life, A Sustainable Development Strategy for the UK. Community Forests offer an effective mechanism through which to integrate urban and rural policy, creating a more sustainable future for both town and country and helping to build thriving, inclusive communities.

Within the wider framework of the National Community Forest Programme, Local Forest Partnerships support freestanding Forest Teams that bring together and co-ordinate the policies, partners, resources and actions required to create their Community Forest within the context of a Government-approved Forest Plan.

Implementation of each Forest Plan is carried out by the local Forest Partnerships and is funded from a wide variety of sources. Community Forests have a successful record of accessing new funding opportunities and securing significant levels of external resources - in 2001-2002 some £1 million of core funding attracted around £15 million of external investment.

In 1998 DETR carried out a review of the Community Forest programme. The review noted the success of the programme against prescribed targets and in comparison to non-Community Forest areas. It highlighted a number of factors contributing to that success, including:

  • strong local partnerships involving the public, private and voluntary sectors 
  • a broad-based long-term vision set out in Government-approved Forest Plans 
  • the presence of free-standing Forest Teams as a focus for action 
  • their ability to develop new and innovative approaches to implementation                                 

Since 2000 the National Community Forest Partnership has put in place new working arrangements to strengthen national liaison, co-ordinate joint activity, raise resources and contribute to external agendas.

These arrangements included the establishment of a central Community Forest Partnership Group and associated topic working groups, the adoption of a National Business Plan and the appointment of a joint funded secretariat and a 'Group Director' (jointly funded until April 2005 by the Countryside Agency and Forestry Commission).

In support of these central arrangements the Countryside Agency and Forestry Commission also funded external contracts in public relations and monitoring and evaluation.