Involving community groups and individuals in the process of environmental change is fundamental to the work of the South Yorkshire Forest Partnership.

Whether we are funding a new green access route, facilitating public consultations, creating new wildlife habitats, organising community tree planting events, co-ordinating environmental arts projects, green health activities or public events such as the South Yorkshire Wood Fair, working with local people is our priority. The process of improving surroundings provides a significant opportunity to actively engage people and build the capacity of the community as a whole to make progress in other areas of life. The forest environment also offers a number of health benefits for communities – green spaces provide a motivating setting for exercise and creative activities and the trees themselves make a direct contribution to reducing airborne pollution. The Partnership promotes these activities through its annual Forest Fever festival which takes place over the school summer holidays.

The South Yorkshire Forest Partnership worked with Barnsley MBC, Timberland, Countryside Agency and English Partnerships to provide the communities in this area with a 14km stretch of pedestrian, cycle and bridle links to strategic recreational routes. The work which included path surfacing, access controls, sign posting, clearance of derelict ground and tree planting brought significant environmental improvements for the communities and provided them with an attractive, safe leisure resource and a vital link into the Trans Pennine Trail.

Every year the Partnership hosts the South Yorkshire Wood Fair, a massive community event where members of the public can find out about their local wooded environment and how it can be used as a sustainable resource for biodiversity, leisure and industry. There are demonstrations from local timber workers, wildlife walks, wood crafts and the opportunity to get involved with local action or environment groups. Look out for information on the next Wood Fair on the home page.

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