Severn Trent Commonwealth Forests
Be a part of our 2022 acres of forests for the Commonwealth Games
We have launched a programme to fully fund and manage tree planting for farmers and landowners across the midlands, offering an annual premium payment of £200 per hectare for the first 10 years, for sites over 8 hectares.
Full management
The scheme will cover all aspects of planting, planning, management, and 35 years of maintenance.
Plus we will take on all the carbon code paperwork, covering registration, validation, and verification of the woodland for 35 years.
Normally a landowner would need to employ an agent to do this.
If you have any questions please contact: forestdelivery@severntrent.co.uk
Biodiversity net gain
We will also set each site up with a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) baseline assessment, which will help landowners attain biodiversity credits from local authorities or property developers, in line with the Environment Bill.
These could be worth approximately £24,710/ha of new woodland created, for 30 years, subject to purchaser's requirements.
Commonwealth Games partnership
This scheme is part of our partnership with The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
As Official Nature & Carbon Neutral Supporter, Severn Trent is supporting the Games in a pledge to leave a carbon-neutral legacy, which includes the creation of 2,022 acres of native forest across the region.
After the 35-year period, which is the estimated timescale for offsetting the Games, landowners will have the ability to keep or sell the residual carbon credits.
This makes the offering an ideal, hassle and cost-free investment for those looking to leave a legacy for their successors.
The carbon credits from woodland planted as part of this scheme have the potential to be worth £15,434/ha after the 35-year period, based on current Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy values.
But we are also open to working with landowners to develop a more flexible tree-planting plan.
For example, we can match labour costs, if landowners have in-house staff, or we can consider alternative planting techniques, such as agroforestry, if on a large enough scale.
Estimated figures
These are the estimated figures of the full monetary value of a tree planting project with Severn Trent. They are based on a desk based assessment of a 20 hectare site.
The income streams exclude any potential income for any future Environmental Land Management (ELM) payment for woodland management.
| Income stream | Income for a 20 hectare site |
| Premium payment from Severn Trent (year 1-10) | £40,000 over 10 years |
| Biodiversity net gain potential (year 1-30) | £80,000 over 30 years |
| Potential Carbon Credits (year 35-50) | £308,460 - Based on current Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy predicted values |
| Potential income over 50 year period | £428,460 (£21,423 per hectare) |
Each proposed site has different tree growing potential and biodiversity gain potential.
The success of these green spaces will rely on the right trees being planted in the right place.
The table should provide an indicator of potential income, subject to passing additionality calculators.
Tiny Forests
We're also be creating 72 Tiny Forests in urban areas across the West Midlands to celebrate the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Each Tiny Forest (which is roughly the size of a tennis court) will link to each one of the nations competing at the Games.
These 72 Tiny Forests will:
- Bring green spaces to urban areas
- Support nature-based outdoor learning
- Create new habitats for wildlife
- Provide everyone with green space to enjoy and reconnect with nature
