The Mersey Forest has a long track record of delivering change. Since the early 1990s, we have been working with communities, landowners and partners to increase tree cover, improve woodland management, and encourage people to get involved. This work is vital for people, nature, and climate.
Our impact totaliser below showcases the difference we are making across our area. We aim to improve these statistics through the delivery of our long-term plan.
Over 10 million
trees established.
This is 4 trees for every person living in Cheshire and Merseyside.
3,900
hectares of woodland created.
This is equivalent to 4 Delamere Forests or 17 Knowsley Safari Parks.
96
kilometres of hedgerow planted or restored.
That is like driving from Ainsdale Beach to Crewe, and helps wildlife connectivity.
900
landowners involved in creating and restoring woodlands.
This includes local farmers, councils, hospitals and schools.
13.7
percent of The Mersey Forest is covered by trees.
We aim to reach 15% by 2050, pushing beyond this if possible towards our long-term ambition of 30% tree cover.
36
percent of woodlands sustainably managed.
We aim to reach 80% by 2050, towards our long-term ambition of 100% of woodlands.
50,000
people engaged in woodland creation and restoration.
This is over the last decade.
1.5 million
tonnes of CO2 stored by the woodlands we have established.
This is estimated over their lifetime.
32
percent of households live near accessible woods.
This is within 500m of a 0.1ha woodland, and within 4km of a 20ha woodland.
85 million
pounds of external funding brought in.
We regularly multiply our local authority partner contributions to The Mersey Forest by a factor of six.
10:1
return on investment in the last ten years.
For every £1 invested by local authorities in The Mersey Forest, communities gain £10 of natural and social capital benefits.
70
percent of households can see at least 3 trees from their home.
We would like all households to meet this criteria.
The statistics presented here were last updated in May 2025
The map shows where and when trees and woods have been established in Cheshire and Merseyside since the early 1990s.