In August this year, new charity Avon Needs Trees completed its first purchase - 34 acres of mixed habitat near Chippenham. ANT has spent the last couple of months assembling volunteers, doing preparatory works, and is now ready to plant 9,000 trees and shrubs, donated by the Woodland Trust.
"It's a fantastic site," says Nikki Jones, Chair of Avon Needs Trees. "By buying the land we make sure that the new woodland is permanent. We're ecologist-led, so some areas are being left as meadow, and one field for natural rewilding. We also have ten acres of very neglected ancient woodland that we are managing for longevity and species recovery."
Avon Needs Trees has conducted a wide range of ecological surveys before beginning work, and university researchers have been engaged to conduct long-term studies, including precise measurement of the carbon sequestration above and below ground.
"Our aim is to continue buying land in the Bristol-Avon catchment area so that we can genuinely make an impact on our carbon lock-up, our biodiversity crisis and our natural flood management," says Nikki. "We are also just beginning to realise how very important this project is to the local community. The public enthusiasm has been enormous and we're busy planning all sorts of biodiversity events, forest schools, and volunteer work days. Our major funder is the National Lottery Heritage Fund and they require evaluation of the physical and mental well-being impacts, as well as changes in learning and behaviour towards natural heritage. This is something we're very happy to do - and the results are already impressive."
Avon Needs Trees isn't stopping with this first purchase. The charity is already half way towards its goal of buying 19 acres at Seend, near Melksham. Ecological studies have been conducted and the site has great potential, with mature hedgerows and two natural pond areas. ANT is planning a mix of community orchard, woodland and meadow in an area where the British Trust for Ornithology and similar groups have noted significant recent declines in key species.
Apart from the Lottery Fund and Woodland Trust, ANT is supported by Natracare, the Bristol Energy Company, and a whole host of smaller, local companies. If you would like to find out more, check out the website www.avonneedstrees.org.uk or contact Chair Nikki Jones on contact@avonneedstrees.org.uk.