The largest opportunities for continuous natural or semi-natural habitat are likely to be located on the urban fringe. By bringing together new and existing land areas, a mosaic of native forest, wetland and grassland habitats can be established.

These habitats are the building blocks for a green infrastructure connecting towns and cities. The planning of urban extensions should therefore take into account and explore the relationships with these areas of opportunity

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Urban fringe habitats have a key role to play as a source of biodiversity for smaller areas of habitat within towns and cities, providing there are linkages extending into the urban area. They are important greenspaces for the urban population, and areas of forestry can also be managed to produce a sustainable supply of timber.

The experience of European cities, such as Berlin, is that these areas of habitat can be managed as community assets in order to benefit a city-region. The Grunewald in Berlin demonstrates how such an asset, in this case a community forest, can be managed on a financially self-sustaining basis. It requires a long-term vision, as well as management and planning in order to resolve potential conflicts between nature conservation, recreational use and forestry. The Grunewald’s Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation is important in demonstrating that ecological objectives can complement commercial forestry (see Case Study 1).

Though a relatively new concept for the UK an ambitious Community Forest Programme was established in 1989. The aim has been to regenerate and revitalise 1,750 square miles of countryside around twelve major towns and cities, transforming the landscape closest to where people live and work. The programme is sponsored by the Countryside Agency and the Forestry Commission.

A good example of a project supported by the programme is the Forest of Marston Vale in Bedfordshire. The forest is managed by a trust based on a 25 year financial plan with the aim being to benefit from economies of scale.