What we're doing
Working with landowners
We are working closely with local landowners and farmers to buffer, restore and protect these small pockets of ancient woodland with tree planting, riparian planting and creating larger blocks of native woodland to build resilience for the future. Our MoreWoods scheme allows us to support landowners through funding, supplying saplings and offering advice. There are lots of mutual benefits for landowners planting trees including flood reduction and carbon offsetting. Find out more about the benefits of agroforestry.
Improving visitor experience
As well as restoring and protecting these ancient woods within the Faughan Valley, we also want to improve visitor experience and allow people to enjoy the area and all it has to offer. With investment from the National Lottery Heritage Fund we are working to link up and create new walking trails for visitors to explore the valley.
Encouraging volunteering
Our volunteers in the Faughan Valley are involved with anything from building leaky dams to planting and coppicing trees, river monitoring and surveying a whole array of wildlife from bats to butterflies. We also offer accredited training for our volunteers so they can learn new skills that will enable them to help conserve their local areas. Find out more about volunteering with us.
Supporting schools and communities
Our Acorns to Oaks programme gives local schools and communities the opportunity to create woodland on their own ground by growing trees from seed to saplings that will be planted in the Faughan Valley. The project provides exciting new outdoor learning opportunities and has a real impact by helping transform local landscapes, making them more resilient for people and wildlife. The programme will run over three years and includes seed collecting sessions in Year 1 and tree planting sessions in Year 3.
We also have opportunities for schools to transform their grounds and create an outdoor classroom through our school grounds programme, which in turn will provide homes for wildlife and help fight climate change. Schools can also achieve the Green Tree School Award by taking part in this programme. Communities can also take part in a similar scheme.
The John Muir Award, a certified environmental award, may be combined with the Green Tree School Award and the Acorns to Oaks programme.
For more information or to get involved, email bronaghgallagher@woodlandtrust.org.uk