The Forest of Avon Trust is the local charity for trees and woodlands in the former county of Avon, which now comprises

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

North Somerset North Somerset is a unitary authorities of England, unitary district in Somerset, South West England. Whilst its area covers part of the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Somerset, it is administered independently of the non ...

South Gloucestershire South Gloucestershire is a unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, South West England. Towns in the area include Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Thornbury, Filton, Patchway and Bradley Stoke, the latter three forming part ...

, and

Bath & North East Somerset Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) is a unitary authority district in England. Bath and North East Somerset Council was created on 1 April 1996 following the abolition of the county of Avon. It is part of the ceremonial county of Somerset. Th ...

. The Trust's ethos is to deliver the benefits of trees and woodlands to as many people as possible in the Avon area to benefit people and

wildlife Wildlife refers to domestication, undomesticated animal species (biology), species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wilderness, wild in an area without being species, introduced by humans. Wildlife was also synonymous ...

. It runs wellbeing activities for people with learning disabilities, mental health needs or dementia; it works with schools to plant trees and engage children in the natural world; it supports community groups and young people to improve their local environment; and it works with land owners to care for woodlands and plant new ones. The charity also champions the Forest of Avon

Community Forest Community forestry is an evolving branch of forestry whereby the local community plays a significant role in forest management and land use decision making by themselves in the facilitating support of government as well as change agents. It involv ...

, working with partners to safeguard existing trees and plant new woodland as part of this. The Forest of Avon Trust provides accredited

Forest School Forest School or Forrest School may refer to: Educational philosophy * Forest school (learning style), a learner centred outdoor learning approach. Religious philosophy * Thai Forest Tradition, a Theravada school of Buddhism in Thailand. * Sri La ...

training and has trained 185 Forest School leaders since 2010. The Forest of Avon Trust currently manages a community woodland near Upton Cheney,

History

The Forest of Avon Trust was established in 2008 to carry on the work of the Forest of Avon

, which planted over 1 million trees. Since then the charity has campaigned for strategic woodland creation, in support of the principles of the

. In their first three years work included: creating mini-orchards in school grounds, donating thousands of locally grown, native trees and shrubs to school and communities, providing advice and support to local groups to enable them to plant trees, delivering environmental awareness and play activities for local schools and nurseries, delivering tailored woodland activities for adults with learning disabilities, advising landowners on woodland management and

Forestry Commission The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for the management of publicly owned forests and the regulation of both public and private forestry in England. The Forestry Commission was previously also respon ...

grants and taking on the lease of The Retreat community woodland.

Patrons

Mike Dilger Mike Dilger (born 7 November 1966) is an English ecologist, ornithologist, television presenter, and the wildlife reporter on the BBC television programme ''The One Show''. He attended the University of Nottingham and UCNW Bangor in north Wales ...

, naturalist, presenter and writer. * Professor Alice Roberts, anatomist, writer and broadcaster.

References

External links

The Forest of Avon Trust
*{{EW charity, 1122314 Forestry education Outdoor education organizations Bath and North East Somerset Organisations based in Bristol Environment of Bristol North Somerset South Gloucestershire District Charities based in Bristol Environmental education in England