2025 in a Nutshell

The group successfully negotiated 3  grant applications, one from the National Lottery Community Fund . One of our volunteers successfully bid for a grant from Kew Gardens, Grow Wild Youth Project to organise and run a fungi, mushroom growing day .  We collaborated with Leeds Mindfulness Co-operative to run 2 Mindfulness courses attended by 24 local residents . A local school ran a forest school event, attended by 6-yr groups over 3 days, building stronger links with the community . During the last year the group ran 11  free community events for local residents. Our events cover different groups of the community from Pumpkin and craft days, Apple Juicing, a family picnic, an easter egg hunt,  an educational day to learn about bees and their importance to our environment, to , Mushroom planting and a syrup making day using ingredients sourced from the forest garden,  bringing together diverse groups together from across the community. Each event was attended by between 25-35  families, adults and children .

Over the last year we have developed a sensory garden, with over 50 plants stimulating the five senses . We involved local residents to ensure it was accessible and inclusive for all age groups and abilities  We have also planted  45 wildlife friendly hedging, 5 new trees, and perennial and useful plants across the garden. . This year we have planted 8 varieties of potatoes  and 11 different types of  annual vegetables. All the produce is free for local residents to pick and eat

The garden volunteers organised and supported 7 corporate volunteering days, welcoming teams from a variety of companies such as Waites, PH Jones, British Gas & The National Grid to help with projects eg: helping to develop the sensory garden, planting, weeding, mulching , weaving a willow fence etc . We were delighted to welcome 3 new volunteers to our growing team. They will make a huge difference as we continue to develop the forest g