Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest crowned England's Community Forest of the Year
The Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest (PSDCF) team has been recognised nationally with two prestigious awards, celebrating the impact of its work to create greener, healthier and more resilient communities across our region.
PSDCF has been named England's Community Forest of the Year 2026 and has also received the Community Engagement Catalyst Award for its innovative work in Devonport, delivered in partnership with Zebra Collective, The Open University, Green Communities and local residents.
These awards recognise far more than the work of one team. They reflect the commitment, collaboration and passion of our communities, volunteers, partners and colleagues across the Council and beyond, who continue to help shape Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest.
Despite a challenging year, with reduced capacity and a number of staff absences, the team has delivered another exceptional programme of work, demonstrating the power of partnership and innovation to bring more trees, nature and green infrastructure to the places where they are needed most.
Over the past year, the team has:
- Delivered more than 235 hectares of new woodland and green infrastructure across Plymouth and South Devon.
- Worked with farms and partners across the South Devon National Landscape to improve water quality and build resilience to climate change.
- Continued to prioritise neighbourhoods with low tree equity, supporting communities to create greener, healthier places to live.
- Expanded the successful Forest Rising programme, sharing its community engagement approach with other Community Forests, including Forest for Cornwall and Forest of Avon, to help replicate the model elsewhere.
- Played an active role in the Nature Towns and Cities programme, helping to shape innovative approaches to trees, woodlands and nature recovery that will benefit the wider Community Forest network.
The Community Forest of the Year judges praised the team's varied and collaborative approach, recognising its work across protected landscapes, farms and urban neighbourhoods, as well as its ambition to help shape the future of Community Forests nationally through innovation, partnership working and developing new approaches to funding and delivery.
Community Engagement Catalyst Award
The team's second national award celebrates the transformative work carried out with the Devonport community at Mount Wise Neighbourhood Centre.
Working alongside Zebra Collective, The Open University, Green Communities and local residents, the team supported a long-term co-design process that culminated in a community-led 24-hour transformation of the centre's outdoor space.
More than 100 local people, including residents, young people, community groups and partner organisations, came together to redesign and green the site in a neighbourhood identified as having low tree equity and limited access to quality green space.
Judges praised the project for putting local people at the heart of decision making, creating genuine community ownership while helping residents develop new skills, build lasting relationships and transform an underused space into a greener, more welcoming environment.
The project has become a powerful example of how community-led design, planting and partnership working can deliver lasting benefits for both people and nature.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this fantastic achievement. These awards are a testament to the dedication of the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest team and the many colleagues, partners, volunteers and communities whose collaboration continues to make a real difference across Plymouth and South Devon.
