We are a partnership organisation, so working with others is central to everything we do. Collectively, we can realise our vision and grow and care for trees and woods across Cheshire and Merseyside, for the benefit of people, nature, and climate.
Our core partners and Steering Group members are the eight local authorities in our area – Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and the Wirral – as well as the Forestry Commission, Environment Agency, Natural England, National Trust, Woodland Trust, and Community Forest Trust. Warrington Borough Council was in the original Mersey Forest Partnership, but has now opted out of it.
We also work with a much wider range of partners from across the public, private, charitable, and community sectors, from local to national and international levels, and with non-environmental sectors including health and education. This includes Defra, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, and the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester, and North Merseyside. Our wider partners also include local communities, charities, businesses, schools, landowners, managers, and farmers, as well as academics and researchers. Our work is supported by the Community Forest Trust, Community Forest Land Trust, and Mersey Forest Foundation charities.
We are one of fifteen community forests that make up England’s Community Forest network. Each forest is different but we all bring trees and people together to create healthy, resilient places for humans and nature to live, side by side.
Along with the Woodland Trust and other Community Forests, The Mersey Forest is part of the Northern Forest that stretches from Liverpool and Chester to the Yorkshire coast, establishing at least 50 million trees across the north of England. Every tree established in Cheshire and Merseyside helps to grow both The Mersey Forest and the larger Northern Forest.
We collaborate with strategic partnerships in our area and beyond, building relationships to unlock support for our work. These include:
