Crossword Genius

Two streets surrounding forest, one providing a means of progress (8-5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stepping stone

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'a means of progress' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether this works.

'two streets surrounding forest one' is the wordplay.
'two streets' means two replacements for 'street'.
'street' becomes 'st' (abbreviation).
'street' becomes 'st' (abbreviation).
'surrounding' indicates putting letters inside.
'forest' becomes 'epping' (I've seen this before).
'st'+'st'='stst'
'stst' going around 'epping' is 'steppingst'.
'steppingst'+'one'='STEPPING-STONE'

'providing' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for stepping stone that I've seen before include "Aid to gradual progress" , "Means to gradual progress" , "This may help one to make progress" , "feature across stream?" , "means to get better" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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