Forestry England is planting Bagots Park Wood, a landmark new woodland in Staffordshire near Abbots Bromley. At 303 hectares — equivalent to more than 420 football pitches — it will be the largest new forest Forestry England has created in over 20 years, boosting nature, climate resilience and community access to green space.
The project aims to strengthen and connect vital habitats already present in the region. Once established, the woodland will support a rich variety of wildlife including all three native newt species, bats, badgers, birds and native plants like the spotted marsh orchid. Carefully selected mixes of tree and shrub species will create a resilient mosaic of habitats able to cope with climate change, pests and diseases.
Beyond biodiversity, Bagots Park Wood will contribute to climate solutions by locking up carbon over decades and, eventually, to a sustainable timber supply for the UK’s green economy. Local people will be able to explore this new woodland alongside the neighbouring Bagot Forest, significantly expanding publicly accessible woodland in the area.
Planning is currently underway. Detailed designs will be shared in a public consultation planned for autumn 2026, allowing local voices to shape the project. Initial planting is anticipated to begin in winter 2027/28.
Managed under the government’s Nature for Climate Fund, Bagots Park Wood aligns with Forestry England’s pledge to plant at least 2,000 hectares of new high-quality woodland by the end of 2026, helping to secure nature, community benefits and a greener Britain for generations to come.
