Forest of Hearts

We partner with the Forest of Hearts who to deliver outdoor programmes to tackle isolation and improve people's health and well-being.

They bring vulnerable people together to create outdoor places of purpose and pleasure. In providing enjoyment, education and volunteering opportunities within a group setting they're able to develop people's confidence, skills and friendships.

They have ongoing and bespoke projects available.

The benefits of these programmes include:

Better physical health through exercise and mobility
Improved mental health through a sense of purpose and achievement
The opportunity to connect with others – reducing feelings of isolation or exclusion
Acquiring new skills to improve the chances of finding employment
Just feeling better for being outside, in touch with nature and in the 'great outdoors'

Forest of Hearts - Green Therapy Group

apple tree

Forestof Hearts - Green Therapy

Green Therapy Project - which helps to promote mental health through gardening together. Creating herb and sensory gardens whilst developing friendships and a sense of belonging.

Harvest Share Project - This initiatives is run by volunteers, saving over a tonne of fruit from local orchards which is distributed to local care homes in the Midlands.

Garden Gym Project - An 8 week programme where volunteers can meet to help plant and maintain a Forest Garden area

Case Study

Community & corporate volunteering with the Forest of Hearts

Partnering with the Forest of Hearts charity, over 85 corporate & community volunteers, including the actor David Bradley, came together to help plant 1000 trees as part of a collaborative effort to create a Honey Bee wood.

On a beautiful winters day in December 2017, corporate volunteers came from a range of different local businesses including Jaguar Land Rover, NFU Mutual, Midcounties Co-operative, Calor and Cooperative Energy to support the creation of a forest garden near the Stratford Upon Avon.

David Bradley, familiar to most as Filch from the Harry Potter movies, Game of Thrones and Dr Who joined the volunteers in the tree planting, saying “I live here and it’s nice to be involved, especially in a project like this one, with inspirational people making a difference. I just think it’s great that young people are aware and are doing something about it.”

The event was a collaborative effort to combat climate change, and trees offer a practical solution to the problem, the UK has one of the lowest rates of forest coverage at 13% compared to the 44% average in Europe.

Ian Burrows, with the Birmingham investment company Brewin Dolphin, said: “It’s a fantastic charity, and it’s important for us to give back to the community as well.”

Events like these raise people’s awareness of their ability to make a positive impact. Often the issue of climate change can feel insurmountable, when in reality it can be solved by businesses working together, taking small consistent steps and using their supply chains effectively. It’s essential that businesses are involved in this process, because they have the power to create a sustainable future and in doing so they gain much greater customer and employee engagement.