Frequently asked questions

Woodland cover in the UK is critically low at only 13% and in our region it is even lower at 8%. This compares with an average of 46% woodland cover in Europe. The West of England has ambitious targets for increasing woodland cover and in Bath and North East Somerset this equates to a 650 hectare increase in woodland cover by 2030. 

Benefits of woodland creation include: 

• Biodiversity: Since 1970 UK species have declined by about 19% on average, and nearly 1 in 6 species (16.1%) are now threatened with extinction. Planting woodlands increases the number and type of plants and animals that can thrive in the landscape. This is vital to start to reverse the decline in abundance and distribution of many species of animals and plants. In particular, woodland edge habitats provide food and nest space for birds and support wild pollinators with benefits to both wildlife and farming. 
• Natural flood management: The Environment Agency has produced a report for us showing that the Lower Chew Forest, along with leaky dams and wetland habitat created on the site will offer significant benefits. These include reducing overland and surface water flow paths and increasing infiltration of rainfall to ground. 
• Carbon capture: Trees lock in carbon as they grow, so play an important role in fighting the climate crisis. Tree-planting at scale leaves an important legacy for future generations. 

Creating spaces for Nature is one of the four key changes outlined in Natural England’s 2023 State of Nature report. It also emphasises the need for Nature Recovery at a landscape-scale, which is why the Wick Farm site is so important within the region’s Nature Recovery Network. Avon Needs Trees is leading on a Landscape Recovery Project, working with landowners across the Chew Valley. Both the Lower Chew Forest and our Great Avon Wood site near Pensford are part of the project.

We are planning for 60% of the land to have tree cover in some form. This will include closed canopy woodland groves, woodland edge, areas of agroforestry and open areas with small numbers of trees. 

Woodland is not suitable everywhere, for example if there are important species-rich areas of grassland on site or important heritage features that need to be maintained. It’s also important to have glades and open space in any woodland creation project to create habitats for a wide variety of species including bird species that are under threat in our region. 

Wide routes through the woodland known as “rides” will provide access. We are particularly mindful of open space in this project because we’re aware that locals value this space currently as a place to walk their dogs and enjoy time outdoors.

Although we are creating woodland on 60% of the land, this woodland could be varied in nature. Importantly, some of it could remain agricultural, allowing us to contribute to food production underneath the light canopies of low density tree cover, a practice known as agroforestry. These agroforestry systems could include orchards, grazing around wood pasture and possibly arable crops. If you would like to watch a clip about the successful use of wood pasture at Yeo Valley in Somerset, please Google “Countryfile Chew Valley”. 

The remaining 40% will be open space and species rich grassland, which will still feature agriculture in some form for example grazing or hay cutting, as well as contributing to food production through supporting wild pollinators.

The final species mix is still to be decided but generally we plant a mix of over 20 native broadleaves with a very small percentage of conifer, usually Scots Pine. We are also assessing the potential for orchard trees at the site. This is to make sure that local ecology benefits from trees that they have evolved with and by planting a large number of different species we can create a woodland that is more resilient to potential pests or diseases in the future.

A key part of woodland creation is protecting the young trees to ensure they grow into a mature and thriving woodland. At Avon Needs Trees, we take a varied approach. We often use deer fencing to protect the trees from deer, or tree guards on individual trees. With Lower Chew Forest, we are likely to take a mixed approach, using both of these methods. 

We will run tree care days throughout the spring and summer to weed and mulch the young trees. This helps ensure they have the best chance of survival in the face of summer heat waves.

Woodland creation has benefits for people as well as nature. It is widely acknowledged that spending time in nature is good for our bodies and minds. The benefits will increase as the trees grow, providing shade in hot summers and a beautiful place to explore and enjoy. 

• Improved access: We know that the space is used by local residents already and we are committed to making sure our woodland plans enhance people’s experience of the area. We’d love to hear from you about what you feel this involves. 
• Volunteering: Opportunities to join a growing community of volunteers from the local area to help plant the woodland and care for it. Our evaluation shows that 87% of people who volunteer with Avon Needs Trees report benefits to their physical and mental wellbeing.

• Learning opportunities: Avon Needs Trees already provides training for young people through our Woodland Skills course and Lower Chew Forest will become a hub for a range of training opportunities over the coming years. 

● A place to stay: We are exploring ideas for visitors to stay at Wick Farm in the future to experience nature, volunteer or learn.

At Avon Needs Trees, we work with local people to plant our woodlands and care for the trees. This collaboration starts in the planning phase, which is why we reached out to the local community to hear their thoughts and to make sure that we’re creating a place that is going to benefit their community. 

Local people will have the opportunity to get involved throughout the project. There will be many volunteering opportunities including planting and caring for the trees, attending community events and learning new skills.

We would like to invite everyone from the local community to get involved! At Great Avon Wood, we have many volunteers from across the Chew Valley, and also immediate neighbours who lead our volunteering days. We also see volunteers travelling from further afield. We will be promoting the use of public transport, such as WestLink, or bikes wherever possible. Carefully chosen contractors will also be helping to plant the forest.

There will be volunteering tree planting days over the course of three winters and tree care work to protect the young trees in the long-term. Our volunteering days tend to attract up to 25 people and our tree care days up to 15 people. We will hold free public engagement events such as tree ID walks, bat and owl walks and family days. These are usually for up to 30 people.

The purchase has only been made possible through ambitious partnerships. This includes grant funding via £4m from the Trees for Climate land acquisition fund, (backed by Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund), over £170,000 of public and business donations and a £3.85m loan from Triodos bank. The Triodos loan will be paid back through the sale of Biodiversity Net Gain credits. The Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) is funding the establishment of 2km of new hedgerows at the site. The West of England Combined Authority (WECA)has voted in principle to support the site with £2m of funding. This autumn and winter we will be fundraising for the woodland establishment costs via a Crowdfunder, additional grant funding and corporate partnerships.

BNG credits are part of new legislation where building developments in the UK need to increase the biodiversity of the site by 10%. If this can’t be achieved, credits can be bought from local environmental projects, to offset the difference. BNG is regulated by the UK government and subject to much more rigorous rules than carbon offsetting. If you would like to read more about our approach to BNG, visit are FAQ here.

Absolutely not. We have no relationship with any airports of any kind. We have very strict practices on donations, sales and corporate partnerships which automatically rules out anything to do with airports, aeroplane manufacturers, the oil industry, arms traders, etc, along with anyone from any industry we feel are trying to use our charity to enable greenwashing.