AVON Needs Trees is launching an appeal for funding to support the planting of a large new woodland between Bath and Bristol.

Funds are needed to plant the first trees in the Lower Chew Forest, where 1,000 volunteers organised by the charity Avon Needs Trees are preparing to begin the planting effort following a successful campaign to purchase the land earlier this year.

Since 2019, Avon Needs Trees (ANT) has planted over 50,000 native trees in a nature-depleted catchment area. The current project, Lower Chew Forest, plans to establish 100,000 native trees alongside hedgerows, wetlands, and grasslands.

Dave Wood, CEO of Avon Needs Trees, said: “This is the biggest opportunity in a generation for us to turn around the critically low percentage of woodland cover in our region, and create a forest-sized woodland.

“The benefits of increasing this cover include helping to mitigate climate change, improving biodiversity connectivity and offering a place for people to walk, learn and connect with nature.”

The woodland, covering an area equivalent to 265 football pitches, would consist of a mosaic habitat featuring miles of hedgerow, wetlands, and grassland. It is expected to reduce flood risk, enhance biodiversity, and provide woodland habitat in a nature-depleted area, while also offering over 5km of permissive paths for public access.

After purchasing the 422-acre area of farmland in May, the charity is prepared to establish the woodland if the necessary funds can be secured. It is seeking to raise the final £100,000 to support this multi-million-pound project.

The crowdfunding campaign will launch on November 1 and run for one month. To raise the necessary funds, the charity is seeking support from the public, schools, and businesses. Dave Wood said: “This is the biggest opportunity in a generation for us to turn around the critically low percentage of woodland cover in our region.”

“The benefits of increasing this cover include helping to mitigate climate change, improving biodiversity connectivity and offering a place for people to volunteer, learn and connect with nature.”

The charity said; “Upon the campaign's completion, the 422-acre site will offer a vision of what a nature-recovered, net-zero future could look like and demonstrate how the community can achieve that together.”

If you would like to be part of creating the Lower Chew Forest, please go to www.avonneedstrees.org.uk any donations are welcome