• Solihull to become first location of the Severn Trent and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy forests
• Planting to begin on World Wildlife Day, Thursday 3 March
• 9,400 trees set to be planted at the Hope Coppice Commonwealth legacy forest site
• Solihull Council also to receive a Tiny Forest at the Hope Coppice site
• Further sites to be announced across the region in coming weeks
Hope Coppice in Solihull will be the first site for Severn Trent’s initiative to create 2022 acres of Commonwealth legacy forest. The 15 acres of new habitat will be open to the public to explore and will equate to around 9,400 trees.
As Birmingham 2022’s Official Nature & Carbon Neutral Supporter, Severn Trent is delivering a series of initiatives to leave a legacy following Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. This work includes the creation of 2,022 acres of legacy forests, as well as 72 tennis-court-sized Tiny Forests which are being created across the West Midlands. Each featuring native UK grown broadleaf species, the sites will leave a positive social and environmental legacy, and in doing so, will increase resilience across the region against the threats of climate change and nature loss.
The legacy forest will increase woodland cover within South Solihull as will benefit existing public rights of way. The woodland will also compliment the Arden Historical landscape and trees planted will be consistent with species currently present. Within the woodland there will be areas retained as open ground for light recreation and future community events on site.
Cllr Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Severn Trent to plant the first Legacy Forest and receive a Tiny Forest too.
“Solihull Council has committed to planting 250,000 trees in ten years as part of its Planting Our Future campaign. This is key to our overarching goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions in the borough by 2041. We are always looking for partnerships which can provide further opportunities to plant trees and the new Legacy Forest will improve the local environment, creating a beautiful and lasting legacy for generations to come. It will also provide new habitats for wildlife, absorb huge quantities of carbon and help to combat climate change.”
To find out more and get involved in planting trees at the Legacy Forest on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 March visit - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/severn-trent-b2022-commonwealth-games-solihull-council-tickets-272078493097