Archive for category: News

Please see link attached to have your say on the local Government reorganisation happening in Worcestershire.

Letter re Local Government Reorganisation JG 9.02.26

A newly planted 10 acres of new native mixed woodland in Stockton as part of the Forestry Commission’s  ‘England Woodland Creation’ scheme. This is a core component of the government’s national ‘Net Zero’ initiative with the overall objective of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The scheme for England aims to plant around 15 million trees a year.

It is a mixed native and naturalised broadleaf woodland planted on land that had been sheep pasture for the past 60+ years. It is made up of 6,000 trees and shrubs with the intention of providing a diverse and resilient mix of climate-adapted species.  There are 30 different types, with the main varieties being Oak, Silver Birch, Hazel, Sweet Chestnut, Wild Cherry, Rowan, Bird Cherry, Field Maple, Hawthorn, Hornbeam and Alder.  There are also some lesser known species such as Wild Service Tree, Whitebeam, Midland Hawthorn and Juniper.  Woodlands like this one take around 20 years to achieve canopy cover and 60 years to reach full maturity. It connects to an area of existing ancient woodland and a smaller 1,600 tree woodland planted in 2020,

The woodland was planted to provide a habitat that encourages wildlife to thrive –  birds, mammals, insects, and other organisms.  Other key benefits are combating climate change through carbon storage; improving water quality and reducing flood risk.  We hope it will leave a lasting legacy as well as contributing to arresting climate change for the benefit of future generations.

It is located at grid ref SO 72016 66580 and is accessible from the south on foot via the Stockton/Stanford Bridge road onto Public Right of Way (PROW) 549(C) (lane north of the Bridge pub on the right hand side that leads to the chicken farm) and then turning left through the gate or over the stile onto the PROW 546(C) before the chicken farm.  Alternatively, from the north via PROW 578(C) off the A443.

As part of our agreement with the Forestry Commission we are supporting a ‘Recreational Access’ initiative that allows public access to the woodland via the existing PROWs and permissive wider access use via the pathways we have created.  This will be operational from February 2026 and there will be information/direction signs in the woodland.

If you would like further information then please contact Bill Webb – billwebb62@gmail.com

West Mercia Police January 2026 Update