Coppicing with the Bristol Drugs Project
Engaging with woodlands can have fantastic mental and physical wellbeing benefits. As part of the Westonbirt Project, it is our ambition to open Westonbirt’s woodlands to new audiences; opening up these positive benefits to as many people as possible.
The Bristol Drugs Project (BDP) have been working with the Westonbirt Project team to trial activities which could engage new groups in volunteering, benefit wellbeing and empower participants with new skills.
Westonbirt’s volunteers were central to supporting the trail, in which BDP members took part in woodland coppicing. Supported by a team of work party volunteers, the Westonbirt education and interpretation team led the coppicing day in Silk Wood.
The trial proved to be a great success, with positive and powerful feedback from all involved:
One BDP service user commented:
“This is the first day in 20 years that I haven’t either been on heroin, or with people that wanted to talk just about heroin. It’s good to be anonymous; to anyone else I was just a volunteer.”
On receiving this feedback Cheryl Pearson FOWA’s Head of Volunteering, commented:
“It is amazing to be able to offer people such life changing and positive experiences. With the new opportunities available through the Westonbirt Project I hope we can open up these opportunities to many more people.”
