Forestry England and DPD are extending their partnership to continue restoring and protecting some of the nation’s forests. Since 2020, support from DPD’s Eco Fund has helped restore Wareham Forest in Dorset after devastating wildfires, planted more than 12,000 trees across four woodlands, and created new community spaces.
The partnership will run for another two years, delivering projects aimed at boosting biodiversity and improving woodland resilience across sites managed by Forestry England. At West Harting Down in the South Downs National Park, work will focus on restoring this ancient woodland with a varied mix of tree species to strengthen resilience and biodiversity. With DPD’s support, Forestry England will plant 5,000 trees, improve the condition of a nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and expand habitat for wildlife such as dormice, turtle doves and several butterfly species.
At Clipsham Woods in the East Midlands, efforts will centre on replanting woodland severely affected by ash dieback. The partnership will enable the planting of 7,000 trees, using a diverse range of species to increase resilience to climate change and future pests and diseases.
These projects will ensure local communities can continue enjoying these important natural spaces, with DPD colleagues from nearby depots invited to take part in site visits and volunteer planting days.
Meera Hindocha, Forestry England’s Head of Brand and Corporate Partnerships, said: “Working with DPD over the past five years has shown the power of partnership. Collaborating with corporate partners allows us to do more for the nation’s forests, for people, wildlife and for a sustainable green economy. There are fantastic examples of the impact DPD’s support has made in many of the 1,500 forests and woodlands in our care. The new wellbeing area at Hamsterley Forest in County Durham is just one example, where a new shelter, benches and tree planting are now in place that would not be there without their support. We’re excited to continue this journey and make an even bigger difference for nature and communities.”
Tim Jones, DPD UK Director of Marketing, Communications and Sustainability, added: “We at DPD are delighted to be supporting Forestry England again for two more years. We’ve made a real impact through our previous partnership with Forestry England, as we’ve planted over 12,000 trees and even helped install a wellbeing area at Hamsterley Forest. We want to build on that over the next two years by planting another 12,000 trees, which makes a significant difference to biodiversity and climate resilience. We’re proud to continue supporting Forestry England in our shared sustainability goals.”
The woodland restoration programme will directly support Forestry England’s broader work on forest resilience. They recently published their forest resilience strategy, which outlines how they will protect the nation’s forests from multiple threats. Three guiding principles — assessing, diversifying and restoring — will shape their approach so the 1,500 forests and woodlands in their care remain fit for the future. As climate change, biodiversity decline, and tree pests and diseases increasingly threaten these landscapes, the science-led strategy sets out a bold plan for long-term forest management.
For more information, click here. Forestry England is an agency of the Forestry Commission.
Details on all of DPD’s sustainability initiatives can be found here, on its dedicated website.
