National Forest for Wales mid-term evaluation: phase 2 report

Community views 

Findings from visits to a sub-set of National Forest for Wale sites suggests an opportunity to increase visitor awareness of the programme. 

Visitors were supportive of the National Forest for Wales as a way to establish woodlands under high quality management.

Community experiences

Visitors reported a range of changes observed at sites and reported undertaking a variety of activities when they visited.

Volunteers were found to strongly support site management activities including woodland management and community activities.

Benefits for communities delivered by National Forest for Wales sites

Visitors highlighted a range of benefits, the most common related to perceived improvements in physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Aspirations for future delivery and future opportunities

The importance of sharing practice, learning and knowledge to support woodland management was a common theme highlighted by sites. This is already happening through the National Forest for Wales Network.

Stakeholder views

Stakeholders highlighted a desire for further information on how the programme is operating and the benefits its enabling. 

Options for social impact assessment

Fieldwork highlighted that no single approach for measuring social impact across the programme would be suitable. Findings also identified the need for impact measurement to be proportionate to site size, ownership and capacity. 

The Phase 2 report sets out a recommended approach to social impact assessment for the National Forest for Wales programme.