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00:03 Britain is one of the least wooded countries in Europe.
00:10 And the west of England is one of the least
00:12 wooded parts of Britain.
00:13 We have just 8% woodland cover.
00:17 That's why Avon Needs Trees is working
00:19 to bring more woodland to the Avon River catchment.
00:22 And to tackle the climate and nature crisis.
00:26 We create permanent woodland.
00:28 And it's our priority to keep looking
00:30 after the trees we plant.
00:33 With sites in Wiltshire, Somerset,
00:35 and on the outskirts of Bristol, our volunteers
00:37 have planted over 35,000 trees in the past four years.
00:41 This includes our largest scheme yet, Great Avon Wood
00:44 near Whitchurch, Bristol.
00:46 This is a groundbreaking partnership
00:48 with the Forest of Avon Trust, bringing this new woodland
00:51 into the wider community forest.
00:55 100 acres, 40,000 trees supplied by the Woodland Trust.
01:01 It's the biggest new woodland on record in the west of England.
01:06 I think one of the most exciting things
01:08 about this whole project is the fact that it's,
01:10 over its lifetime, going to lock up so much carbon, which
01:13 of course is brilliant from the point of view of tackling
01:16 the climate crisis.
01:17 But I think it's also exciting because this
01:19 is a project that's by the people for the people.
01:22 So people locally will be able to come along,
01:25 get involved in planting days, and do their bit
01:28 for the climate crisis.
01:31 Our volunteers are amazing.
01:33 They tell us that planting trees with us makes them feel good,
01:36 that they're doing something worthwhile.
01:39 I got involved with the Great Avon Wood project
01:42 because I think we've really got to do something
01:44 very positive about reversing the negative effect
01:48 that humankind has had on the environment.
01:52 I was really inspired by the idea of leaving a wood behind.
01:56 So I've been coming back every week
01:58 and seeing more and more patches of new forest
02:01 in what was an empty field a month ago.
02:04 It's been such a great day.
02:06 I've actually never planted a tree before.
02:08 So yeah, I've actually learned loads.
02:11 Volunteering means that I'm doing something
02:13 for the future.
02:15 I'm improving the environment for the future.
02:18 Just coming out to the countryside,
02:20 I feel like, if not anything else, it's just so good
02:23 for having a peace of mind.
02:25 I don't know how to describe it.
02:26 It's just really nice and calming to just come out here.
02:30 It's a really worthwhile activity,
02:34 not just to meet new people and have an impact on nature,
02:38 but to learn new things as well.
02:43 Honestly, if I can do it, I feel like anyone can do it.
02:45 [LAUGHS]
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02:50 600 new volunteers have joined us
02:51 since we started Great Avon Wood.
02:54 But we need more help to look after the young trees
02:56 as they grow and to plant more later in the year.
03:00 And we need more help from landowners, donors,
03:03 and funding bodies.
03:05 Your contributions have made our schemes possible.
03:09 Your help will make future schemes possible.
03:14 Avon needs trees, and we need you.
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