The North East Community Forest (NECF) has announced an ambitious new Delivery Plan for 2025–2030, setting out how it will create 1,000 hectares of new trees, woodlands, hedgerows and open spaces across the region over the next five years.

Approved by the NECF Partnership on 27 March, the Delivery Plan defines a major programme of woodland creation, tree planting community engagement and diversifying funding streams.

The Delivery Plan turns the long‑term vision of the NECF Forest Plan (2025–2050) into clear, practical actions. It provides a detailed roadmap for delivery, setting out how targets will be met, how the work will be funded, and how progress will be monitored and reported.

Designed to give confidence to partners, funders, local authorities, landowners and communities, the plan outlines how NECF will work collaboratively to create greener, healthier places across the North East.

Ross Weddle, Chair, The NECF partnership said: “We are proud to support this ambitious Delivery Plan, which marks a major step forward in creating a greener, healthier and more climate‑resilient region. By committing to 1,000 hectares of new trees and woodland, alongside strengthening the management of the woodlands we already have, we are investing in nature, communities, and the long‑term wellbeing of the region. This plan gives us the clarity, confidence, and shared direction we need to work together at scale, ensuring that people across the North East benefit from cleaner air, richer biodiversity, improved access to green space and a thriving natural environment for generations to come.”

Richard Pow, Forestry Commission Manager NE England said: “We are delighted to endorse the North East Community Forests Delivery Plan.  Building on the Long-Term Vision to significantly increase tree and woodland cover in the Tyne and Wear area, this tactical plan expertly sets out the strategy for creating more woodlands, planting more trees, and managing more woods with and for the benefit of the people in Tyne and Wear and east Durhan area.  The people , environment and economy of this area will all benefit and more carbon will be captured helping to combat climate change.  As Government’s Forestry experts,  we look forward to continuing working as an NECF partner, collaboratively with the core NECF team and the wider partnership, in delivering this plan”.

 

The headline priorities for 2025–2030:

1. Woodland Creation and Tree Establishment

Create and establish new woodland, Trees Outside Woodland (TOW) and hedgerows in priority areas aligned with Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) and Tree Equity principles, ensuring benefits reach the communities that need them most.

2. Sustainable Woodland Management

Promote the restoration and sustainable management of existing woodlands to boost resilience, enhance biodiversity and strengthen long‑term environmental and social value.

3. Community Involvement and Inclusion

Engage communities, schools, young people, landowners and local authorities at scale, placing inclusion, youth involvement and long‑term stewardship at the heart of delivery.

4. Funding and Governance

Secure diversified, multi‑year funding and strengthen governance and delivery capacity, enabling NECF to plan confidently and maintain momentum across planting seasons.

NECF has a regional vision for creating a greener, healthier and more climate‑resilient North East. The newly approved Delivery Plan sets out how that vision will be achieved during the first five years, with clear milestones in place to ensure measurable progress against shared environmental, social and economic goals.

By collaborating with partners across the region, the NECF aims to restore nature, improve air quality, and enhance the health and wellbeing of local communities.

This Delivery Plan sets out how NECF will deliver meaningful environmental change now and for generations to come.

The NECF Delivery Plan is available on our website here.