What The Mersey Forest does

The Mersey Forest is a charitable partnership organization and one of fifteen designated Community Forests in England, established in 1991 to grow woodlands and green spaces across Cheshire and Merseyside. It operates as a steward of environmental conservation through a partnership governance model comprising eight core local authority partners (Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral) plus national agencies including the Forestry Commission, Environment Agency, and Natural England, alongside conservation charities such as the National Trust and Woodland Trust. Over three decades the organization has established more than 10 million trees, created 3,900 hectares of woodland, and engaged over 50,000 people across a 2,955 km² area.

The organization's core deliverables are service-based rather than product-based, encompassing tree planting and establishment support, woodland management advice, natural flood management, the Natural Health Service for wellbeing, a schools programme serving 470 schools, and grant administration for government funding streams. Technical capability centres on the proprietary Tree Atlas, an online GIS mapping portal with multiple data layers for tree cover ambitions, existing woodland, constraints, and recreational access, which underpins a 'right tree, right place' advisory methodology. The Ideas Lab, established in 2024 with Liverpool John Moores University, extends capability into environmental research and innovation.

The Mersey Forest's business model is a hybrid charitable funding structure with no commercial pricing. Revenue is assembled from government grants (notably the Nature for Climate Fund's Trees for Climate programme), local authority core contributions (with a documented 6x external funding multiplier), donations through the Mersey Forest Foundation charity, and business partnership contributions from corporates including INTX, Clear Channel, Merseyrail, Peel, Chester Zoo, and Titanic Hotel Liverpool. Services are provided free of charge to landowners, farmers, community groups, schools, and residents, with grant funding covering up to 100% of woodland creation costs plus 15 years of maintenance payments. The organization has brought in £85 million of external funding cumulatively and delivers a documented 10:1 return on investment for its local authority partners.

Name

The Mersey Forest

Legal name

The Mersey Forest

Website

https://merseyforest.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Mersey Forest is a charitable Community Forest partnership established in 1991 that plants and manages woodlands across Cheshire and Merseyside, serving local authorities, landowners, schools, businesses, and residents through grant-funded tree planting, the Natural Health Service, and the Tree Atlas mapping platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Forestry and Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Timber Tract Operations (11311)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Timberland & Forest Asset Management (IMAMAJAA), Timberland Conservation & Easement Management (AFAMAKAI), Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB), Disaster Risk Reduction Services (Flood Mitigation, Erosion Control, Landslide Stabilization) (AFAMAMAJ), Forestry & Ecosystem Carbon Removal (Afforestation/Reforestation, Improved Forest Management) (EUABAFAH)

Keywords

• Community forestry
• Woodland creation
• Tree planting services
• Environmental conservation
• Urban greening programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Warrington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: Trees for Climate programme (Government-led Nature for Climate Fund) covering up to 100% of woodland creation costs plus maintenance payments. Grow Back Greener funding for urban planting projects. Multiple grant schemes available to landowners, community groups, and partners.
2. Donations: Direct donations from individuals and organizations to The Mersey Forest Foundation charity. Donations support tree planting, woodland maintenance, and community engagement projects across Cheshire and Merseyside.
3. Business Partnerships: Partnership contributions from businesses including Clear Channel, INTX, Merseyrail, Peel, EcoGee, Carbon Neutral Britain. Companies contribute through Community Woodland Fund, specific project support, pro bono services, and ESG/sustainability initiatives.
4. Local Authority Contributions: Core funding from eight local authority partners (Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral). Partner contributions are regularly multiplied by a factor of six through external funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Mersey Forest is a community forest partnership that delivers free tree planting and woodland establishment services, woodland management advice, urban greening programmes, natural flood management, and nature-based health and wellbeing activities across Cheshire and Merseyside. The organization distributes government grants covering up to 100% of woodland creation costs and maintenance payments, supports schools and landowners through its team of Woodland Advisors and Community Foresters, and operates grant schemes such as Trees for Climate and Grow Back Greener.

Product overview

The Mersey Forest is a community forest organization (one of England's 15 Community Forests) that operates as a partnership between local authorities, government agencies, and charitable organizations. Their portfolio consists primarily of service offerings organized around tree and woodland creation, management, and community engagement. Core services include tree planting and establishment support (with funding up to 100% available), woodland management advice, and the Natural Health Service providing free nature-based wellbeing activities. Their work spans grant programmes like Trees for Climate and Grow Back Greener, school education programmes supporting 470 schools, the Ideas Lab research platform, the Tree Atlas digital mapping tool, and community initiatives like Voices of the Future and Oaks at 80. The organization does not offer a unified software product but rather delivers services, funding, and resources to communities, landowners, schools, and local authorities across Cheshire and Merseyside.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Natural Health Service: A programme offering guided nature-based activities for adults to improve mental and physical health, completely free of cost.
• Trees for Climate
• Ideas Lab

Products and services

• Tree Planting and Establishment Services Provides free advice, funding, and support to landowners, farmers, community groups, and schools for planting and establishing trees, woods, hedgerows, and other habitats across Cheshire and Merseyside, with grants covering up to 100% of project costs and 15 years of maintenance payments.
• Woodland Management Services Offers advice and support for managing existing trees, woods, and habitats to ensure they thrive and deliver benefits for wildlife, recreation, timber production, and flood reduction, targeting landowners and land managers.
• Natural Health Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 million+ trees established since 1991
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• Liverpool John Moores UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Academic partner through Ideas Lab and Natural Curriculum Hub. Co-funded student research and provides academic evaluation of projects including Natural Health Service impact assessment.
• Ideas Lab (Academic Partnership)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Established in 2024 as a new centre of excellence for environmental research and innovation, facilitating collaboration between researchers and stakeholders using The Mersey Forest as a Living Laboratory.
• Northern ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Alongside Woodland Trust and other Community Forests, The Mersey Forest is part of the Northern Forest stretching from Liverpool and Chester to Yorkshire coast, aiming to establish 50 million trees across northern England.
• Cheshire East CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991One of eight core local authority partners in The Mersey Forest partnership. Provides governance through Steering Group representation and contributes to strategic direction and funding.
• Cheshire West and Chester CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991One of eight core local authority partners in The Mersey Forest partnership. Steering Group representation guiding partnership priorities.
• Halton Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991One of eight core local authority partners in The Mersey Forest partnership with Steering Group representation.
• Knowsley CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991One of eight core local authority partners in The Mersey Forest partnership with Steering Group representation.
• Liverpool City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991One of eight core local authority partners in The Mersey Forest partnership. Major urban focus area for tree planting and urban greening.
• Sefton CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991One of eight core local authority partners in The Mersey Forest partnership with Steering Group representation.
• St Helens CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991One of eight core local authority partners. Home to Bold Forest Park, a major transformation project from former coal colliery to vibrant forest.
• Wirral CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991One of eight core local authority partners. Focus on Wirral Waters regeneration and urban greening projects.
• Forestry CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991National government body and core partner in The Mersey Forest Steering Group. Provides regulatory guidance and funding support for woodland creation.
• Environment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Core partner focusing on natural flood management and water quality improvement projects across Cheshire and Merseyside.
• Natural EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Core partner providing guidance on nature conservation, biodiversity, and environmental policy alignment.
• National TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Major conservation charity partner in The Mersey Forest partnership, contributing to woodland management and landscape-scale conservation.
• Woodland TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Core partner and co-founder of Northern Forest initiative. Provides expertise and resources for tree planting and woodland creation.
• Community Forest TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Umbrella charity supporting all of England's Community Forests. Provides organizational support and funding facilitation.
• Cheshire Wildlife TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Wider partner supporting conservation and wildlife habitat projects across Cheshire, with joint volunteering and community engagement initiatives.
• Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North MerseysidesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Wider partner for nature conservation across the Mersey Forest area, supporting habitat connectivity and species protection.
• England's Community ForestscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991The Mersey Forest is one of fifteen community forests that make up England's Community Forest network, sharing best practices, evidence reviews, and collaborative initiatives.
• INTXsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiverpool-based transport company partnership supporting tree planting, habitat restoration, and community wellbeing projects. Regular contributions and staff volunteering through ESG partnership generating measurable social and environmental value.
• Clear ChannelsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides free digital billboards for Tree Manifesto School Project, supporting environmental messaging and awareness campaigns.
• MerseyrailminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTransport partner supporting sustainable travel and environmental initiatives in the Merseyside region.
• PeelsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor regeneration partner associated with Wirral Waters project, supporting urban greening and landscape transformation.
• Chester ZoosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner driving woodland creation expansion at Chester Zoo, combining conservation expertise with woodland establishment.
• Titanic Hotel LiverpoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHospitality partner providing CSR volunteering at Griffin Wood, with staff participating in tree planting and conservation activities.
• Arbor Day FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership providing support and resources for tree planting initiatives, part of global arboriculture network.

Scale indicators24 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Community Forest Trust: Umbrella charity supporting all of England's Community Forests including The Mersey Forest. Provides organisational support, funding facilitation, and collective advocacy for the Community Forest network.
• Woodland Trust: The UK's largest woodland conservation charity, co-founding partner of the Northern Forest initiative with The Mersey Forest. Both organisations plant and manage trees, work with landowners, and receive government grant funding, making them direct competitors in the same space.
• The Conservation Volunteers (TCV): UK-wide charity connecting people with green spaces through volunteering and community engagement. Comparable to Mersey Forest's community engagement, volunteer-led planting events, and natural health/wellbeing activities.
• Heart of England Forest: One of England's 15 Community Forests, planting and managing native woodland in the Heart of England. Operates the same community forest model with landowner partnerships, volunteer engagement, and grant-funded tree planting.
• Greenwood Community Forest: Another of England's Community Forests, focused on tree planting and woodland creation in Nottinghamshire. Shares the same Community Forest model, government recognition, and partnership-driven delivery approach as The Mersey Forest.

Broad incumbents

• Forestry Commission: UK national government body responsible for forestry policy and regulation. The Mersey Forest lists the Forestry Commission as a core Steering Group partner, but it operates as a broad incumbent across all of England rather than a community forest specialist.
• National Trust: Major UK conservation charity with extensive landholdings and woodland management programmes. A core partner of The Mersey Forest, the National Trust operates at a much larger scale across England but is comparable in charitable conservation focus and woodland stewardship.

Regional players

• Cheshire Wildlife Trust: Regional wildlife conservation charity covering the same geographic area as The Mersey Forest in Cheshire. Both organisations work on habitat restoration, biodiversity, and community engagement with overlapping volunteer and landowner networks.
• Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside: Regional wildlife trust covering part of The Mersey Forest's operating area. Both organisations focus on habitat connectivity, species protection, and community nature engagement in the North West of England.

Others

• Chester Zoo: Major conservation charity and listed partner of The Mersey Forest for woodland creation expansion. Adjacent partner in the conservation ecosystem rather than a direct competitor, but comparable in charitable operation and regional conservation focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/merseyforest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-mersey-forest
• Instagraminstagram.com/themerseyforest_official
• Xx.com/merseyforest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Mersey Forest