The Mersey Forest

St Helens is a partner in The Mersey Forest, a joint initiative of seven local authorities, Natural England and the Forestry Commission with a wide range of public, private and voluntary organisations and individuals involved as partners. The aim is to establish multipurpose woodlands throughout Merseyside and North Cheshire with better environments for people to use and enjoy.

The Mersey Forest is an innovative and visionary programme that is restoring the landscape in project areas, creating opportunities for economic regeneration, recreation and nature conservation, building local community support and involvement in local environmental improvements. Find out more about the Mersey Forest.

A critical element in the positive transformation of St Helens has been the work to improve the appearance and perception of the borough and to make St Helens a more attractive place for residents, investors and visitors. The impetus for change was fuelled by initiatives such as the City Growth Strategy, which took a visionary approach to the regeneration of the borough.

The strategy identifies St Helens Town in the Forest, the borough's woodland planting strategy, as being the overarching concept of St Helens town centre in 10 to 15 years' time, being at the heart of a maturing series of linear woodlands, connecting with the newly developed community woodland areas.

The council, along with its partners including the Mersey Forest and Bold Parish Council, is committed to developing a Forest Park, mainly in the Bold area of St Helens. The Bold Forest Park Area Action Plan aims to encourage inward investment via rural entrepreneurship in the visitor economy, while providing leisure opportunities for the community.