The Heart of England Forest is a charity committed to helping reverse centuries of woodland decline in England. The Heart of England Forest is located principally in South Warwickshire with some woodland in Worcestershire. The forest stretches from the Forest of Arden south to the edge of the Vale of Evesham. To date, the charity has planted more than 1.3 million trees across 3,000 acres of new woodland between Honeybourne to the south and the Spernall Estate to the north. Additionally, they have protected and manage a further 600 acres of ancient woodland. The charity was founded by Felix Dennis, and is now headed by a board of five trustees, led by the chairman, Jon Snow who was appointed in June 2014.
Visitor Access
The charity has opened up much of its woodland to the public via permitted access footpaths and accessible routes. In 2015 they opened their first visitor car parks in and around Dorsington along with way-marked routes. More car parks and walking trails are planned. The charity also works with a number of local schools and education groups to offer an exciting and vibrant outdoor classroom. An established, secure ‘Wild Wood’ zone welcomes school groups and other local organisations every week, so children from both rural and city communities can get a hands-on lesson in the great outdoors.
Planting
100% of the trees planted are native broadleaf including English Oak, Alder, Birch, Sycamore, Hornbeam, Wild Service and Rowan. See full species list below. The Heart of England Forest plants around 300 acres of new planting each year between November and April. In 2015/2016 the Heart of England Forest planted approximately 170,000 trees – their highest total for one planting season to date. The charity also grows saplings for planting at an in-house tree nursery. It currently produces around 30% of the oak trees planted – the aspiration is that eventually all tree saplings planted will have been grown from seed in-house. The design of the woodland includes wide paths or rides to ensure a beautiful accessible forest, full of light and air.
Founder
The original vision for the Heart of England Forest came from the English businessman, local landowner and philanthropist Felix Dennis. He wanted to bring trees back to the local landscape with a native forest – to plant a ‘joined-up’ woodland that would provide vital green corridors for wildlife, as well as a light and airy place for everyone to walk and enjoy. In 1996, he planted his first small wood near his home in Dorsington, Warwickshire and in 2003, Dennis founded the charity. Dennis died in 2014.
