The government has committed up to £7.5 million over a five-year period to support the creation of a third new national forest.

The new national forest will be located in either the Midlands or North of England and is is expected to be up to 600 square miles in scale.

Eligible organisations across the Midlands and North of England are being invited to submit bids to become a delivery partner. 

This national forest will have a particular focus on improving health outcomes for communities. Low-income communities disproportionately feel the impacts of poor access to green and blue spaces and there is evidence that access to woodland and green spaces delivers substantial public health benefits. These include: better mental health and reduced healthcare costs; increased physical activity and chronic disease prevention; cardiovascular benefits and stress relief; stronger social connections and community engagement; and cognitive development in children and young people.

A new national forest in the Midlands, where 10 million tress have been planted, has increased tree canopy and woodland cover from 6 per cent to 26 per cent, and supporting more than 5,000 jobs in the visitor economy.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said: "In our manifesto we promised three new national forests, and after the Western Forest and the OxCam arc forest we’re looking for England’s newest forest in the Midlands or the North.

"Too many communities can’t access the green spaces that benefit mental and physical health. This new national forest will help change that, and I encourage every eligible organisation with the vision and expertise to come forward."

National Forest Company Chief Executive John Everitt said: "Opening the competition for the third new national forest is a major milestone in accelerating our tree planting ambitions. We are looking forward to seeing some strong applications that can make a real difference for the health and wellbeing of communities across the Midlands and North of England."