The themes and principles set out in Space4trees relate to and should also be used to influence activity at the more local level.

Sub regional Strategic Partnerships (SSP’s)

The region’s economic development priorities are being delivered by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) through the work of the Sub-regional Strategic Partnerships (SSP’s). These partnerships bring together private, public and voluntary sector interests to champion and support economic development and inward investment appropriate to local needs.

Key elements of the regional economic strategy that relate to trees and woodland management, including urban regeneration, rural diversification, training

and skills, tourism, the growth of environmental technologies such as wood energy, are being championed by the emda and the SSPs.

Local authorities

Many authorities are significant owners and managers of woodland and trees and all of them offer services that bring them directly into contact with local communities, landowners, businesses and voluntary sector bodies who have woodland interests.

The formation of Local Strategic Partnerships and the development of Community Strategies provides an important opportunity to focus local attention and action on the benefits of trees and woodlands.

Local area agreements

Local Area Agreements are set to become increasingly important as the basis for funding agreements between Local Authorities, Local Strategic Partnerships Government Offices, Regional Development Agencies and other key regional bodies.

These funding agreements provide opportunities to address local priorities for safer, stronger and healthier communities and may result in investment in regeneration and the provision of environmental infrastructure such as community woodlands and other green spaces.

Area based initiatives and partnerships

In parts of the region, in particular The National Forest, Greenwood Community Forest, and other areas covered by woodland initiatives and special projects, detailed strategies are already in place to deliver the benefits of trees, woodlands and wooded environments to local communities, economies and environments.

These initiatives demonstrate the potential for woodlands to deliver a range of public benefits, from biodiversity and landscape enhancement to the restoration of damaged and degraded land and the regeneration of local communities and economies. They have also been instrumental in showing how physical regeneration of the environment, access to local green space and the opportunity to become actively involved can make a real contribution to people’s physical and mental well being.