Land purchase to create wildlife corridor and woodland

AVON Needs Trees and Forest of Avon have purchased a new area of land that will become the fourth section of Great Avon Wood.

The 23.5 acre site near the village of Pensford in the Chew Valley will create space for 6,500 native trees and extend a publicly accessible heritage walking trail within easy bus reach of Bristol and Bath.

The new woodland sits between the three existing sections of Great Avon Wood, creating a vital wildlife corridor that will link habitats together.

Around 75 percent of the site will become native woodland, with the remaining 25 percent managed as species-rich grassland and wood pasture to create a diverse landscape for wildlife.

Chief executive of Forest of Avon, Ped Asgarian, said: “Linking up these woodlands will turn an empty field into a wildlife corridor where animals can move freely in search of food, shelter and breeding sites.

“It’s an exciting opportunity because we can plant and manage trees in a way that creates a range of habitats over time.

“The mix of species we'll be planting will benefit our birds, bees and other pollinators for many years to come; all on a site that’s easily accessible for the public and local community.”

This collaboration between three of the region's leading woodland creation organisations, including Western Forest, is an exciting step towards their shared mission to increase much needed tree cover in one of the UK’s most nature depleted regions.

As the new woodland is established, local people will be invited to plant the trees themselves, engaging with the landscape from the very beginning.

Director of Western Forest, Jamie Audsley, said: “The purchase complements Avon Needs Trees' flagship Lower Chew Forest project nearby, where 100,000 trees have been established to create the South West's largest new woodland in a generation.”

The woodland project at Pensford will create lush new green space for the public to enjoy through footpaths that extend the Great Avon Wood Heritage Trail celebrating the area's rich history, including the ancient Publow Oak and the Wansdyke earthworks.

Chief executive of Avon Needs Trees, Dave Wood, said: “When we first established Great Avon Wood, it was really exciting for nature recovery in the area. However, there was always a missing piece of the puzzle in the middle of the Great Avon Wood map.

“We're hugely excited to be working with Forest of Avon and Western Forest to bring the full woodland together.”

Avon Needs Trees are inviting the public to help shape the woodland’s identity by suggesting a name. To avoid ending up with “Woody McWoodface”, the charity will draw up a shortlist of suggestions before inviting the community to make a final decision. Name ideas can be suggested on the Avon Needs Trees website.

Planting of the new woodland will take place this winter and will be powered by hundreds of tree-planting volunteers with people of all ages and experience levels encouraged to get involved in the next chapter of the Great Avon Wood.