FORESTRY England has announced the creation of two new woodlands at Okehampton, on the northern edge of Dartmoor, and at Treborough, in eastern Exmoor.

Okement Wood (83 hectares) will be created between Abbeyford Wood and Berrydown Plantation, to the north of Okehampton.

Blackwell Wood (21 hectares) will adjoin Druid’s Combe Wood and Langridge Wood, north of Treborough.

These new woodlands follow the recent creation of three new forests at Dury Wood, Wagaford Wood, and Burriott Wood, which saw Forestry England plant more than 200,000 new trees in the SW during 2024 and 2025.

Okement Wood and Blackwell Wood will be planted with tree species carefully chosen for their local suitability, resilience to climate change, and to create habitats for wildlife to thrive.

As they mature, the new woodlands will lock up carbon from the air, help to manage flood water, and will eventually produce sustainable timber for local markets.

The woodlands will be also be open access, supporting local people to explore and benefit from time in nature.

Forestry England’s forest management director in the west of England, Kevin Stannard, said: “Forestry England has been expanding the nation’s woodland cover since 1919 and Okement Wood and Blackwell Wood are natural extensions of forests we already manage in Somerset and Devon.

“Creating new forests from scratch is an exciting opportunity to apply the latest evidence-based forestry quite literally from the ground up, while ensuring that each woodland is designed sympathetically for its landscape.

“As planning gets underway, we are speaking to our immediate neighbours near both sites and will share our draft design proposals for wider public consultation next year. It’s important to us to hear from local residents so we can understand their needs and hopes for the sites as we develop our design plans.”

Forestry England is creating these new woodlands using the government’s Nature for Climate Fund programme.