A new Forestry Commission case study published on 28 November 2025 confirms Salts Wood in Boughton Monchelsea, Kent, has been created as a 33‑acre community woodland with 22,000 native trees and paths designed for inclusive access.

Designed around hard, step‑free paths that circle the site, the wood welcomes buggies, wheelchairs and mobility scooters-transforming former farmland into an everyday walking route for residents and a safer space for wildlife. The Parish Council notes the land was previously an arable field before tree planting began.

For readers tracking climate impact: 33 acres is roughly 13 hectares. Using Woodland Carbon Code ranges for native woodland, that area could lock away about 3,300–5,300 tonnes of CO2 over the project’s lifetime, with the exact figure dependent on species mix, soils and long‑term management. Eco Current’s estimate is based on typical values of around 250–400 tCO2e per hectare from Woodland Trust guidance and independent modelling used by Scottish Farm Advisory Service.

Biodiversity features have been built in from day one. Insect hotels plus bird and bat boxes-installed with help from local volunteers including the Boughton Monchelsea Scout Group-give early habitat while the young woodland establishes. Maidstone Borough Council’s climate team also records that the planting drew on carbon‑capture finance to get the project over the line.

Accessible woods pay health dividends as well as climate ones. Forest Research has estimated woodland visits reduce UK mental‑health treatment costs by around £185 million a year, with updated analysis this spring putting the figure closer to £213 million; step‑free loops mean more people can realise those benefits more often.

Governance matters too. Salts Wood sits within land held by the Boughton Monchelsea Amenity Trust, a charity created by the Parish Council to safeguard countryside and public access. BMAT now stewards around 300 acres locally, with roughly 100 acres dedicated to nature and climate projects such as Salts Wood.

Progress has been steady since planting in 2021. Parish updates reported strong sapling establishment by 2024 and work to complete the circular, step‑free route to open more of the wood in wetter months-a feature the new Forestry Commission case study now highlights as a core community benefit.

Small practical touches help it work for everyone: picnic benches for resting, dog‑waste and litter bins by entrances, and regular checks by neighbours and volunteers-simple maintenance that keeps the space welcoming and protects early wildlife gains.

Replicability is clear. Parish‑scale woods can combine carbon income with creation grants and, if registered under the Woodland Carbon Code, generate saleable carbon units verified over time. Official statistics show hundreds of projects now validated across the UK as interest grows among buyers and landowners.

For those planning a visit, Salts Wood sits off Hubbards Lane on the edge of Maidstone. The looped, hard‑surface paths are designed so families, wheelchair users and older walkers can circulate without hitting a muddy dead‑end-a small design choice that broadens who nature is for.