Forestry Comes to Town

One of the most dramatic changes of the last 3 decades, in England as in many other countries, has been the rise of urban forestry. It is important to put this trend into an international context, in order to determine the English characteristics of the movement and, conversely, to stress the part that England has played in the urban forestry movement. The fifth chapter thus analyses the definition, remit and tools devised to deliver the objectives of urban forestry. It also stresses elements of resistance to this new concept, linked with the cultural background. Among these are to be found the historic connection of forests with social status, the association between forestry and the Forestry Commission’s work and the dominantly private ownership of land. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, urban forests seem to have become widely accepted, as the figures of their frequentation by the public testify.

In a country like England where 90% of the population live in urban areas, compared to a European average of 70%, developing multi-purpose forestry has meant both managing peri-urban forestry for new purposes as well as bringing woodlands closer to towns and cities. This chapter explores the significant milestones in the development of urban forestry, from its genesis to its adaptation in England, with a view to setting the scene for the qualitative analysis of the following chapters.