Largest native forest

The Woodland Trust is set to start creating England's largest new native forest after plans for planting 850 acres of woods were given the green light by the Forestry Commission.

Some 650,000 trees will be planted at the Heartwood Forest site near St Albans, Hertfordshire, bought by the trust in July 2008 for an £8.5 million project to create new woodland for the benefit of people and wildlife. The Forestry Commission has approved a detailed environment statement which covered archaeology, wildlife, impact on the local population, access, education and the involvement of the community in creating the forest.

Later this month the Woodland Trust will hold a ceremony to mark the planting of the first trees on the site.