Aerial view looking down on small leaved lime, mature oak and ash tree tops
Our impact
At a time when our work has never been more needed, the Forest continued to grow with your support. Look at what we achieved together in 2021/22.
Our Head Forester and Chief Executive standing with three school pupils by a newly planted oak tree in a green field with mature trees in the distance
The 2 millionth tree was planted in the Forest at Gorcott Hill by a group of young pupils from Mappleborough Green C of E Primary School. This represents a huge milestone in our mission to create and conserve a 30,000 acre Forest.
Aerial photo looking down on a red tractor and the seed beds in the tree nursery
Thanks to the Green Recovery Challenge Fund (GRCF) grant our new commercial tree nursery was set up as a social enterprise business. Staffed largely by adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), the nursery provides our supported interns with much needed pathways into employment and will supply saplings for the Forest.
A close up of supported intern Tom standing in the Forest and smiling at the camera
Our supported internship programme changed the lives of six young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). All teams across the charity were involved, giving the supported interns a wide variety of experience from across the charity, showing what we can achieve together.
Common reed bunting perched on a branch with green buds emerging
We carried out our first Forest BioBlitz, recording a total of 363 animal and plant species in Alne Wood and Middle Spernal over 24 hours with local experts and members of the public. Several Red List birds of conservation concern were recorded singing including yellowhammer, reed bunting, and grasshopper warbler and the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) white-letter hairstreak butterfly was seen.
Close up of a fallen tree trunk across the running water of Noleham Brook in the Forest
Collaborating with several local stakeholders, including the Environment Agency, Wychavon District Council, and Worcestershire County Council, we successfully restored a wetland floodplain habitat feature on the Noleham Brook at Pitchell Wood. Not only will it attract more wetland wildlife, it will also ‘slow the flow’ to help alleviate local flooding.
A male volunteer in the foreground is fixing a wooden boardwalk with a hammer. There are more volunteers further along the boardwalk which is surrounded by trees.
10,078 volunteer hours were given, the equivalent of more than 5 full time members of staff. This is a record number for the charity, and even more impressive considering the continued COVID-19 restrictions.
An aerial view of new land acquired in the Forest. There are several fields with hedgerows and the spring sun is shining
209 acres of new land was added to the Forest, which now covers 7,000 acres. The land will become part of our rich and varied land bank, to be used for creating woodland and improving diverse habitats in the Forest.
Four school pupils gathered around a trangia doing outdoor cooking with a member of the Fores team
We delivered 5,502 learning days for children and adults. The diversity of the groups we worked with increased significantly this year, enabling us to make an impact with disadvantaged pupils, improving their wellbeing, knowledge, and connection to nature.
An audio trail wooden marker with an circular information sign by the side of a footpath in the Forest
The first-ever audio trails in the Forest were developed, enabling visitors to choose from three themed trails to hear about the habitats, wildlife, and history of the Forest as they walk in the woodlands.
Find out more about our work and achievements
Impact and Annual Reports
There are many ways that you can help to grow the Forest
Ways to support