The Space4trees action plan sets out the immediate priorities for action. It also indicates some of the organisations that have a role in their delivery. This is not an exclusive list however, and all regional stakeholders are activity encouraged to play their part.

Some of the actions are practical and focus on delivering immediate change. Others are aimed at addressing gaps in our knowledge or evidence base and will help to shape future actions. All of them are intended to operate at, and produce benefit at a regional scale.

Action Plan - Trees and people

Aim
To provide and promote more opportunities for everyone to enjoy the social, health and educational benefits of trees and woodlands.

Objective1
More opportunities for people to enjoy high quality recreational, cultural and educational experiences, close to where they live.

Actions
1.1 Use green infrastructure mapping and public benefit scoring to target access creation and improvement on areas where trees and woodlands can contribute most to meeting accessible greenspace standards and the delivery of rights of way improvement plan targets, particularly in major regional population centres: FC / RA/ ABIs / WT

1.2 Promote understanding of the contribution of trees and woodlands to quality of life and ensure that this is more widely reflected in Local Development Frameworks and the objectives and actions of local delivery vehicles such as community strategies, local area agreements, area based regeneration initiatives, SSP business plans: LGA / GOEM / EMDA / RA / FC

Objective 2
A greater contribution to public health and well being, through public access to trees and woodlands and opportunities for community participation, active recreation and sport.

Actions
2.1 Promote the health value of wooded sites and facilities in collaboration with other woodland owners and the providers of ‘outdoor’ activity, through the development of the Regional Physical Activity Plan: SE / FC / FE

2.2 Target regional health priority areas to assess greenspace provision and identify areas of need and opportunity to deliver health benefits through improved woodland access provision: FC / SE / GOEM / RPHT / NE

Action Plan - Trees and the Environment

Aim
To maximise the contribution of trees and woodlands to the region’s natural, cultural and historic environment and ensure that trees and woodlands are better able to withstand external environmental pressures.

Objective 1
The character and quality of the region’s environment enhanced by a landscape scale approach to woodland management, tree planting and woodland creation.

Actions
1.1 Agree, as part of the RSS review, a process for the revision of woodland creation and management targets, based on the aggregation of county objectives and priorities: RA / FC / LGA

1.2 Use landscape characterisation and biodiversity data and trends at a landscape scale to identify broad objectives and targets for woodland creation: LGA / FC / NE

1.3 Support specific initiatives to conserve and expand priority woodland habitats and species populations, as identified by the England Woodland Biodiversity Groups priority targets list: RBF /Local BAP Co-ordinators/ Wildlife Trust’s: FC / NE/ PDNP

1.4 Bring into favourable or recovering condition 95% of Woodland Sites of Special Scientific Interest and other SSSIs where woodland is a factor in unfavourable condition by 2010: NE / FE / FC / PDNPA

1.5 Ensure that the range of benefits of trees, woodlands and wood products are fully recognised and exploited in the region’s strategic response to climate change: EA / FC / RA

1.6 Promote effective policies for the creation of new woodland and associated habitats in the flood plain as part of catchment flood management plans and the regeneration of strategic river corridors: EA / FC / RA

Objective 2
The ancient woodlands, veteran trees and other historic features such as parklands and wood pasture are identified, protected, and sustainably managed.

Actions
2.1 Agree regional priority cluster areas in which to target action to protect, extend and enhance ancient woodland sites and features within ecologically robust networks of semi natural habitat: RBF / WT / NE / FC

2.2 Identify and survey to assess condition of the region’s veteran tree and parkland / wood pasture resources: RBF / WT / NE / FC

2.3 Ensure that national Ancient Woodland policy is reflected within regional planning policy, including a presumption against any loss or damage of ancient woodland sites, veteran trees or other historic woodland features: RA / LGA / WT / NE

2.4 Promote the gradual restoration of the majority of planted ancient woodland sites to native woodlands and associated habitats on public and private lands: FC / NE

Action Plan - Trees and the Economy

Aim
To encourage innovation, enterprise and growth of woodland related businesses and to enhance their contribution to the regional economy.

Objective 1
The economic sustainability of woodland made more secure through support for business activity in key areas of environmental management, leisure and tourism, renewable energy, added value wood products and processing.

Actions
1.1 Enhance the market potential of added value products and improve returns to growers through support for market research, supply chain development, regional promotion and marketing (including public procurement) and support for the technical skills base: EMDA / GOEM / FC / NFC / NE

1.2 In particular, support the development of markets and the use of wood as a renewable and sustainable fuel source for renewable energy: EMDA / FC / GOEM / RA

1.3 Work with East Midlands Tourism and the destination management partnerships to improve the marketing of woodland attractions at the destination level and promote the importance of trees and woodlands as part of the region’s ‘natural environment’ tourism offer: EMT / DMPs / FC / ABI’s

1.4 Ensure that the changing business support and training needs of the woodland and forestry sector are recognised and are met through appropriate and suitably accessible services: EMDA / IBs

Objective 2
A wider acknowledgement and support for the role that trees and woodlands play in assisting regeneration and creation of an attractive setting for inward investment and growth.

Actions
2.1 Target investment in trees and woodlands within regional regeneration areas to deliver greatest benefit in terms of physical regeneration, support for inward investment and the enhancement of image: FC / EMDA / SSPs / RA

2.2 Build upon the adoption of Environmental Infrastructure principles established in the South Midlands Growth Area to ensure that the economic and social importance of trees and woodland is further recognised and promoted through regional, sub-regional and local economic and spatial strategies and plans: RA/ EMDA / SSPs / LGA

Action Plan - Communication and Collaboration

Aim
To create a better understanding of the roles and benefits of trees, woodlands and wooded environments and support the sharing of information, innovation and good practice.

Objective 1
Woodlands, trees and wooded environments used more widely as a resource for community participation and a wide range of learning activities and supported by high quality, accessible information and interpretation.

Actions
1.1 Use appropriate and consistent media and methods to improve regional understanding of woodland issues amongst key audiences from general public to woodland business and private land owners, local and regional bodies, elected members and decision makers and also sectors not ‘traditionally’ associated with woodlands such as health and culture: FC / IBs / NGOs / RA / LGA / PDNAP

1.2 Review the contribution to environmental awareness and behavioural change provided through woodland based environmental education and interpretation activities: RA

1.3 Promote examples of good practice from within the East Midlands and extend the social value of trees and woodlands as a vehicle for community development and capacity building: FC / FE / NFC / ABIs / SEEM

Objective 2
A shared approach to issues and opportunities supported by more effective communication, collaboration and regional networking across the public, private and voluntary sector interests

Action
2.1 Develop a consultative mechanism to assist with the setting, monitoring and review of regional (FC) grants targets: FC / RAC / NE / LGA / ABIs

2.1 Work with other grant giving bodies to develop and promote a ‘package approach’ to incentives and support to deliver regional priorities, including small scale LA grants, Environmental Stewardship, EWGS etc and provide a basis for the targeting of resources such as S106 or bids for other funding streams: FC / NE / LGA / PDNPA

2.3 Provide regional leadership by undertaking a full review and revision of Forest Enterprise District Strategic Plans to reflect RFF priorities and delivery objectives: FE / FC

2.4 Develop more effective regional representation of woodland interests within existing and emerging regional groups such as the ERDP Regional Consultative Group (and its successors under the 2007 ERDP review) and the proposed Land Based Industries Forum: FC / EMDA / GOEM / NE

2.5 Establish a regional reference group of woodland owners, managers, users and policy makers to support networking, promote collaboration and provide an effective voice for woodland interests, including the future development and review of the space4trees framework and action plan: FC / RA / ABIs / Ibs