Help us grow the missing piece of Great Avon Wood
A new woodland is coming to the Chew Valley
The missing piece of Great Avon Wood puzzle has been found.
Our three existing Great Avon Wood sites are close together, but not connected.
This summer, with support from Western Forest – Avon Needs Trees and Forest of Avon purchased 23.5 acres of land that can join them together.
This winter, with your help we will plant 6,500 native trees to create a new woodland that joins the existing areas of Great Avon Wood together.
Each new tree will play a leading role in creating a continuous woodland and vital wildlife corridor that links together our existing work.
This is more than a new place to plant trees. It’s a chance to reconnect nature, extend a much-loved heritage trail and create a new green space that local people can help shape from the very beginning.
A continuous woodland of nearly 40,000 trees
Great Avon Wood is three areas of young woodland near Pensford, between Bristol and Bath. These three sites of over 30,000 trees were planted between 2023 and 2025 by over 1,000 amazing volunteers.
However, there’s always been a gap between them. Nature thrives in connected landscapes so this summer we were thrilled to purchase the missing piece of the puzzle.
By turning around 75% of the land into native woodland, we can join these existing habitats together, giving birds, mammals, insects and other wildlife more space to move, feed, shelter and breed.
The remaining 25% will be managed as species-rich grassland, creating a diverse mosaic of habitats.
This new woodland will also provide space for people. New permissive pathways will extend the Great Avon Wood Heritage Trail and allow access to nature just a short bus journey from Bristol and Bath.
What should we call it?
A new woodland needs a name.
And we’d like you to help choose it.
The three existing sections are known individually as Wansdyke, Hermitage and Hicksmead.
We’re inviting the community to suggest names for this new section of Great Avon Wood. Perhaps there’s something in the landscape, its history, its wildlife or its future that inspires you.
We’ll create a shortlist from your suggestions before asking the community to choose the final name.
What’s your name for the new woodland?
Help plant the first trees
The first trees will go into the ground this winter – and we want local people to be there.
Hundreds of volunteers will help plant the 6,500 native trees that will establish this new woodland.
You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need years of volunteering experience. You just need to be willing to get stuck in.
Be the first to hear about volunteering opportunities
Planting dates and volunteering opportunities will be announced through Avon Needs Trees and Forest of Avon.
For the best chance of taking part, we recommend registering as a volunteer with both organisations.
Part of something much bigger
The new woodland builds on the work already underway nearby at Lower Chew Forest, Avon Needs Trees’ largest project.
There, 100,000 trees have been established to create the South West’s largest new woodland in a generation.
Together, projects like these are helping to increase tree cover, reconnect habitats and restore nature across one of the UK’s most nature-depleted regions.
Connecting Great Avon Wood this winter is another piece of that puzzle.
We want you to help put it in place.
A new woodland starts with a first tree.
This winter, you can fight the climate and ecological emergency and help us plant it.
Plant the missing piece
Join us in putting trees 6,500 trees in the ground this winter. Think globally, act locally.
Volunteer with Avon Needs Trees
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Fund the future
Every donation gets us a step closer to buying these trees and giving them the care they need to thrive.
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