Growing Wales’ National Forest

The evaluation assessed how the programme’s delivery mechanisms, including funding routes for tree planting and land management and Woodland Liaison Officer support for landowners, were developed and implemented, and explored how communities experience woodland sites at this interim stage through site visits, interviews, focus groups and a community survey across eight case study sites. It also developed recommendations for how the programme could measure its social impact over the longer term.

Key findings
• 93% of Status Scheme sites met all six high-level National Forest outcomes, not just the single mandatory requirement, evidence that the delivery model is embedding quality beyond minimum compliance
• 90% of community survey respondents supported the National Forest concept, with 85% reporting improved physical health and 84% improved mental wellbeing from visiting sites
• Volunteers were central to delivery across all eight case study sites, sustaining woodland management, generating income through enterprise activity and creating pathways into paid employment

Read the reports: Delivery evaluation | Community experience and impact measurement

The evaluation’s recommendations on future impact measurement are informing how Welsh Government plans to build evidence of the programme’s contribution to national wellbeing and biodiversity goals.