Watling Chase Community Forest
Where is Watling Chase Community Forest?
Watling Chase Community Forest (WCCF) is an area of 72 square miles (188 square kilometres) in south Hertfordshire and north London around the towns of Potters Bar, St Albans, Bushey, Borehamwood and Barnet. It consists of a mixture of farmland, meadows, wildlife areas, hedgerows and woodland as well as public open space and the urban fringe. View map of area
About Watling Chase
WCCF was set up as a pilot for a country-wide Community Forests project in 1991 to assist regeneration of the countryside and greenspaces in and around urban areas. At the time, it was one of 12 Community Forests in England. The vision for WCCF, described in the Forest Plan 1995, was to see much of the area under postitve and appropiate management by 2015. The aim was to see a substantial increase in trees and woodland, achieved through management of existing woodlands and new planting in order to create well-wooded environments for work, wildlife, recreation and education.
Why do we need Community Forests?
Watling Chase is one of England's Community Forests, a national partnership that is regenerating and revitalising the countryside and greenspace in and around our major urban areas, creating well-wooded environments for work, wildlife, recreation and regeneration.
Together, the twelve community forests are helping to improve the environment, assist in economic growth and enhance the health, well being and quality of life for over half of England's population.
England's Community Forests are sponsored by the Forestry Commission and Natural England and work with local authorities and a wide range of public, private, voluntary and community partners to create better places and more sustainable communities. You can find out more about England's Community Forests here.