Growing Great Avon Wood

Back in 2022, we hatched a plan with Avon Needs Trees…

We purchased 100 acres of land in the Chew Valley just outside Bristol. With help from hundreds of volunteers, this became Great Avon Wood – where an amazing 30,000 new trees have been planted in just three years.

This year, we’re inviting volunteers to be part of next stage of this amazing journey, as we grow Great Avon Wood and connect the woodland that’s been planted so far.

We’ve teamed up with Avon Needs Trees and Western Forest to buy another piece of land that will create space for 6,500 more trees. This will turn what’s currently an empty field into a vital wildlife corridor, linking up the areas that have already been planted so that nature can move more freely through the landscape. It will also extend a beautiful walking trail through the woodland.

Two people talking while planting trees at a volunteer day.

This new stage of the project is exciting because it joins up tree habitats at Great Avon Wood for wildlife, creating a larger area where nature can move, feed, breed and thrive. As it grows and matures, Great Avon Wood will support species such as chiff chaffs, willow warblers, nuthatches, woodpeckers, barn owls and kestrels. Nurturing the grassland on the sites we’ve purchased will also create habitats where butterflies and wildflowers can thrive.

The new section of woodland will be a green space for local communities to enjoy too – and it’s only a bus ride from Bristol and Bath. Avon Needs Trees have designed a wonderful heritage walking trail through the woodland, which will be expanded with this new purchase.

So how can you get involved?

Come and plant trees with us

We need hundreds of volunteers to get this new area of woodland growing by coming along to planting days this winter.

To join in, sign up to our newsletter, where we’ll share all upcoming volunteer days. We’d love to see you there.

Be part of naming the woodland

Avon Needs Trees are inviting you to help shape this new section of woodland’s identity by suggesting a name! You might be inspired by your favourite local wildlife, places or even people. You can add your ideas on the Avon Needs Trees website.

Tell us your name ideas

With thanks to all Great Avon Wood’s supporters

This new land purchase is a joint acquisition made by Avon Needs Trees and Forest of Avon. It has been supported by Western Forest – a new national forest transforming woodlands, farms and communities for the West of England.

With thanks to all the funders who have supported Great Avon Wood: