Celebrating the Silk Wood Community Planting Project
After three years of planting, learning, caring and growing together, the Silk Wood Community Planting Project at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, has reached an important milestone.
Created in response to the devastating impact of ash dieback, the project set out to restore five hectares of ancient woodland while placing local communities at the heart of the process. Since its launch in 2023, more than 4,000 people from over 50 community groups have helped shape the woodland's future, contributing to every stage of the project, from design workshops and tree planting to aftercare, monitoring and wellbeing activities.
Together, participants planted more than 9,000 trees across the site, creating a diverse and resilient woodland for future generations. The new woodland includes a rich mix of native and near-native species, helping to increase biodiversity and strengthen the site's resilience to future environmental challenges.
The impact of the project extends far beyond the trees themselves. Schools, youth groups, mental health organisations, SEND groups, volunteers and community organisations came together to learn new skills, improve wellbeing and build lasting connections with nature. Many participants planted a tree for the very first time, creating personal connections to a landscape they can return to and watch grow for years to come.
For many participants, the experience offered opportunities they may not otherwise have encountered.
"They're learning new skills and gaining an insight into outdoor environments they wouldn't normally experience. They wouldn't ever plant a tree, so they're gaining an understanding about how trees grow, why we need to look after them and maintain a place like that." Group Leader.
The project has also generated valuable scientific insights through biodiversity surveys, tree growth monitoring, environmental DNA studies and wildlife recording. Early results are encouraging, with a 94% sapling survival rate, more than 80 wildflower species recorded and over 50 bird species identified across the site.
As we celebrate the completion of the project with stakeholders and community groups, we recognise that this is not the end of Silk Wood's story. The woodland will continue to be monitored and carefully managed, ensuring that the thousands of trees planted by the community can thrive and mature into a healthy woodland ecosystem.
We would like to thank every participant, volunteer, partner organisation and funder who made this project possible. Your enthusiasm, commitment and care have transformed an area affected by disease into a thriving community woodland that will benefit both people and wildlife for generations to come.
