contents

Introductions Foreword by Paul Nolan Introduction to the August 2001 Plan Abbreviations in this plan Land area conversion National Context Forests for the Community Aims and Objectives Current Policy Framework Countryside Agency Forestry Commission Funding Regimes Conclusion Local Context Case for the Mersey Forest The Mersey Forest area today Planning context Forest-wide vision The Forest-Wide Vision Community Participation Access, Sport, Recreation, Tourism & Health Urban Trees Transport Corridors Wildlife and Nature Conservation Archaeology Education The Arts Mature Woodland Woodland Products and Industries Design Forest Strategies Forest Strategies Sefton Liverpool Knowsley St. Helens Halton Warrington Vale Royal Ellesmere Port & Neston Implementation Achieving change in land use Resources Woodland Planting Targets Monitoring and evaluation Appendices and Bibliography Landscape assessment and strategy Landscape regions Landscape types Landscape strategy: six options Maps in this plan Bibliography

“A society grows rich where people plant trees under the shade of which they may not sit.” Anon.