Tributes have been paid to Neville Fay, a pioneering tree expert and environmental campaigner who lived in Chew Stoke for many years and helped to establish a charity whose work has reached communities across Africa.
Neville, who died in August aged 78 after a short illness, was a founder of Tree Aid and played a leading role in the protection of ancient trees.
His friend Geoff March, writing in The Guardian, recalled how images of famine in Ethiopia inspired Neville to seek a longer-term response. He gathered friends at his local pub in Chew Stoke and began fundraising for what became Tree Aid.
The charity supported community-led projects in Africa’s Sahel region, helping people restore damaged landscapes. Tree Aid said Neville’s vision and belief in the power of trees had helped turn an idea into the organisation it is today.
Its teams in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mali planted trees in his honour, a tribute shared with Neville and his family before his death.
Ted Green, founder president of the Ancient Tree Forum, said the tree care world had lost a key figure and he had lost a great friend. Neville was instrumental in establishing the forum as a charity and became its first chair.
Forestry Journal also reported tributes to Neville, a chartered arboriculturist whose work was widely respected in the profession.
Neville’s commitment to community extended beyond trees. In the 1970s, he and his wife Kate joined friends at a disused rectory in Chew Stoke, where they helped establish the Lodge Co-operative Housing Association. It has continued to provide affordable homes.
His tree work developed into the consultancy Treework Environmental Practice. He also co-founded the Sustainable Soils Alliance with his daughter Ellen.
Mr Fay leaves Kate, their children Luke, Ellen, Gabriel and Rachael, and six grandchildren.