Welcome to the new Forest of Avon Trust blog: providing a unique insight in to the progress of this new Trust for trees in the Bristol, Bath and Weston area (the West of England). 

I will be joined by Jon Attwood on the 15th March. Jon is Natural Connections Co-ordinator and will work closely with the health sector to demonstrate the role of trees and the natural environment  in benefiting people of all ages, with mental health needs. It will be great to have that project underway and someone else to help the Directors and myself drive the Trust forwards.  

Through the kind support of individuals and businesses the Trust's Free Tree scheme is supporting three and hopefully, four community planting schemes. These include tree/ shrub planting at Abbott's Leigh and Redland Green. I will also shortly be sending Tree Dedication funding out to support the establishment of  Overscourt Wood, Siston; Manor Road Wood, Keynsham and  Oke Park Wood, Brentry. 

The Garden Forest project is also coming together, with the next phase being for me to try and access funding from donors and businesses, and also producing planting guidance. There is huge potential for this to initiate a groundswell of action in the 250,000 private gardens out there, as well as the thousands of community green spaces. Let me know if you want to take action and get get involved: there is a sticker in it for you! 

Look out for our new display which is doing the rounds at Civic Centres, spreading the word about trees and how to get things really moving here in the West of England.   

I would like to extend a big thank you to the organisations and individuals who are currently contributing towards our core costs. It means we can function and start to get a load of great projects moving.

Look out for the new interactive blog... coming when I can master the technology!  

Jon. 5th March 2010.

Your thoughts are welcome as ever, email me on jonclark@forestofavontrust.org