My story

I was first introduced to the Heart of England Forest by a friend, and the very first place we visited was Dorothy’s Wood. It took about thirty seconds for me to fall in love. That was it. Forest-hooked. She later took me to Coxmere and then Giddings, and from that point, I never looked back.

Spending so much time among the trees, I felt a pull to give something back. That’s when I discovered the Friends of the Forest, so naturally I became "a Friend", and through the Newsletter I encountered volunteering. At first, I hesitated. I have a connective tissue disorder and some mobility problems, and I genuinely worried that due to my physical barriers, I wouldn’t be any good. I kept thinking I’d slow everyone down or mess something up.

However, the pull was still there; I couldn’t shake it. So, I did an online session with Jonathan, the Volunteer Coordinator, and everything he said made me want to join. But…I still didn’t sign up straightaway. It took some time. One day, scrolling through the list of volunteer roles, I saw gardening. I already had my own garden, so I thought, I can do that…surely?

I went along, despite being slightly nervous, and ended up having the most amazing time. The people were warm, welcoming, and easy to be around. The time flew. I went back the next week, and then other volunteers encouraged me to try different sessions too. Before I knew it, I was approaching my 100th volunteering session, and there was absolutely no going back!

I love it. The Forest has become my happy place.

Volunteering has given me so much more than I ever expected. I’ve learned about the story of Felix Dennis, picked up new skills (free learning guys), and discovered a whole community of people who care about nature in the same way I do. Every session teaches me something new, and every day out there feels like a gift. I know so much more than when I started, yet still feel like there's always more to learn. That’s part of the magic.

The people are a huge part of why I keep coming back. The leaders of the sessions happily impart their knowledge; they are, of course, just as keen as we are and so pleased to have us there. The volunteers come from all sorts of backgrounds, and hearing their stories is genuinely inspiring. We look after each other. No one is judged. If there’s something you can’t manage, someone is there to help you, or you simply don’t have to do it. If you don’t enjoy a certain task, you try another. There’s so much variety that everyone can find their place.

My next milestone is tree planting. I haven’t done it yet, and I’m not sure how my body will manage, but everyone is so supportive. I’ll give it a go. Even if I can only do it once, I’ll have seen the journey through from seed to soil, and that means a lot to me.

I’m now house-hunting, and one of my biggest requirements is being close to the Forest. I need it in my life. My dogs absolutely adored it, too. I don’t have them anymore, but there will be another one, and I want them to grow up with these woods as their playground - respectfully, of course!

Volunteering isn’t always glamorous. We’ve worked in the rain, and last summer the heat was unbelievable. But there’s always tea, coffee, and biscuits - sometimes cake if someone’s feeling generous. There’s laughter, teamwork, and that shared sense of purpose.

And the scenery…sometimes you have to stop and breathe it in. The rides stretching out, the birds calling, the leaves rustling around you. It takes your breath away. Being out there with people who feel the same creates a sense of belonging that’s hard to put into words.

The sessions are genuinely inclusive. No one is left behind. No one is left struggling. And when you stand back at the end of a session and look at what you’ve all achieved together, it’s such a proud feeling. You know you’ve made a difference.

I’m so grateful to have become a Friend of the Forest, but even if you can’t give money, you can give time, and every little bit helps. I won’t always be able to volunteer as many hours as I do now, but I’ll never stop completely. I couldn’t. The Forest is part of my life.

Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, give it a go. Giving back to the Forest feels like the most worthwhile thing I’ve ever done.

If you can’t give your time, I’d recommend becoming a Friend.

This is my story, a story of resilience and perseverance. Thank you for reading.