About

The Forest of Avon Trust is the local charity for trees in and around Bristol. We strongly believe that trees make a huge contribution to our quality of life now and will be even more important in the future.

Listen to Mike Dilger’s interview summarising our work:

Click here to play the video

Trust Objectives are to:

  • Get trees planted individually, in gardens, streets, green spaces or as woodlands, with a strong focus on areas of low tree cover;
  • Run activities, tailored to needs, to engage all sections of the community in local woodlands and green spaces;
  • Provide training to support communities and individuals to plant and manage trees;
  • Deliver Forest School/ related training to support schools in getting the next generation involved;
  • Provide advice to improve the management of woodlands and help safeguard these where they are under threat;
  • Lease and acquire local woodlands and promote access to them;
  • Campaign for strategic woodland creation, in support of the principles of the Forest of Avon Community Forest.

In our first three years our work included:

  • Delivering 22 mini-orchards to schools, funded by local businesses;
  • Donating 5,000 locally grown, native trees/ shrubs to school and communities;
  • Providing advice and support to 25 groups to enable them to plant trees;
  • Delivering environmental awareness/ play activities for 15 schools;
  • Delivering tailored woodland activities for 400 adults with learning disabilities;
  • Advising 18 landowners on woodland management and Forestry Commission grants;
  • Taking on the lease of The Retreat community woodland.

With your support we can do much more.

The Garden Forest & Street Orchards

One of the Trust’s priority projects is the Garden Forest. This is about extending shrub and tree planting in to private gardens, to complement our streets, parks and green spaces.  So far we have worked with local community groups and delivered advice and free garden shrubs/ trees to residents in Avonmouth, Cadbury Heath, Haydon (Radstock), Knowle West, Montpelier, Shirehampton, Westbury on Trym and Worle. Advice and low cost fruit trees have supported ‘Street Orchards’ in Cotham/ Redland, Knowle West and Montpelier, with Westbury on Trym to follow.

For general information about planting in gardens click Garden Forest Planting Guide.a. To set up your own part of the Garden Forest, or a street orchard, email Jon Clark.

Background

Over the last 15 years over a million trees were planted within 10 miles of Bristol, as part of the Forest of Avon Community Forest. This far- sighted work created many accessible woodlands to enjoy. These areas also make an important contribution to local biodiversity,  landscape, attractiveness to investors and with longer- established woodlands, deliver critical environmental services, such as pollution control and water management.

The Forest of Avon Trust was established in 2008 as the local charity to keep this great work going for many years to come. We work in and 30 miles around Bristol. 

We are fully independent are are funded from sources including sponsorship, membership of the Friend’s scheme, grants, fees and donations. The Forest of Avon Trust is a company limited by guarantee, company number: 6252763, charity number 1122314.

Patrons: Mike Dilger, Naturalist, Presenter and Writer; Professor Alice Roberts, Anatomist, Writer and Broadcaster.

Directors: Keith Betton (Chairman), Keith Bonham MBE DL, Nigel Howe, Rt. Hon. The Earl of Ducie, Professor William Scott FRSA, Dr John Vanderplank.

Staff:

Jon Clark (Executive Director)
T (0117) 963 3383, M (07948) 994237, E jonclark@forestofavontrust.org

Jon Attwood (Training Manager)
T (0117) 963 3383, M (07889) 279418, E jonattwood@forestofavontrust.org

Why Trees?

Trees are a fundamental part of our daily lives and positively contribute to where we choose to be and how we feel. Whilst they may be taken for granted, their absence or loss is strongly felt.

Trees also:

  • Cut energy use: this can be 10% lower in buildings sheltered by trees;
  • Reduce flash flooding: cutting disturbance and damage after heavy rain;
  • Are carbon neutral: if local trees are used for wood fuel or construction;
  • Speed patient recovery: less time is spent in wards with views of trees;
  • Reduce asthma: as they filter out air borne pollution;
  • Contribute to a high quality of life: people pay 3- 7% more to live on tree lined streets;
  • Support the local economy: people prefer, stay longer and more frequently visit, shopping areas with trees;
  • Support inward investment: quality of life is a factor in the relocation of 57% of business executives;
  • Contribute to safer communities: flats associated with trees have fewer crimes and people feel safer;
  • Provide a generation busting legacy: local tree planting not only brings communities together, but the results last hundreds of years; and
  • Create robust woodland havens for wildlife, landscape diversity and public access in to the long- term.

 We feel that these add up to a compelling case. To help us maximise these benefits, please join us as a Friend: Friends Scheme Application_1 




 


 



 

 

 

 


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