Our Charity Year in Numbers

With our charity year running from November 1st to October 31st, we proudly reflect on another twelve months of creating gardens, running Green Therapy, delivering Green Team events and engaging the community in projects all with the mission of helping people, places and nature thrive.

Volunteers

This year, 291 volunteers contributed an incredible 3,418 hours - learning new skills, meeting new people, enhancing their wellbeing in nature, and taking part in environmental and sustainability activities that have left a lasting impact on our community and the planet.

Green Therapy

Our Green Therapy programme welcomed 67 participants, delivering 382 hours of weekly sessions across 7 Warwickshire locations including Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital, Bishopton Community Centre, Mary Ann Evans Hospice, Stratford Station, Shakespeare Hospice, Myton Hospice and Lillington Health Hub.

Through hands-on activities and supportive learning environments, individuals developed practical skills in horticulture, food growing, and maintaining a healthy diet alongside creative and technical skills in woodwork. Participants also built personal skills such as confidence and social connection, reduced feelings of isolation, and gained employability and life skills through nature‑based activities. Participants also deepened their understanding of sustainability, biodiversity, and wider environmental issues through the activities.

Our sincere gratitude goes to The Coventry and Warwickshire Mental Health Collaborative (MHC) for funding the programme and helping to make it such a powerful success with lasting impact.

Garden Creation

Through consultation, careful planning, and a collaborative creation process, we established 5 new gardens in our local community - Stratford Hospital Courtyard Garden, the Green Therapy Veg Garden, Lavender Meadows Orchard, Station Approach Garden at Stratford Train Station and the Stratford Hospital Community Diagnostic Building Garden - all designed to boost biodiversity, enhance mental health and wellbeing, and help nature thrive.

Green Team Events

This year we partnered with 11 companies, running 18 corporate team-building events and volunteering days through their corporate social responsibility and impact initiatives. From energising team-building experiences to hands-on volunteering and tree planting days that made a real difference. We had the pleasure of connecting with a wide range of corporate groups who share our passion for the environment. Their enthusiasm, impact, and sense of fun have made this year truly memorable. We give thanks to all of the companies during this period for their support and for choosing us: Square Enix , Monumo , Valpak Limited , Sapling Spirits | B Corp , NFU Mutual , Quick Release_ , Kallik , RWE , Groundwork , Grafton Group plc , BAM UK & Ireland & Eden Hotel Collection

Garden of Arden

We continued the maintenance and preservation of our five-acre green space, nurturing it as a sanctuary for wildlife and a welcoming base for community and corporate volunteering and events.

On our site we planted 2,025 trees, including fruit trees in the orchard and hedgerow, enriching the environment while providing vital habitats that support local wildlife and strengthen biodiversity.

Our wildflower meadow was surveyed by Izaak Taylor and Libby Keysell from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, revealed an impressive array of wildflowers and grasses, many of which are key indicator species of species-rich grassland. In total, over 40 wildflower and grass species were recorded, including several sedges and rushes, all contributing to a rich tapestry of life.

Community Events

This year we brought people together through a wide range of events and workshops. From labyrinth making and apple pressing to create fresh juice, to welcoming visitors at open days in our newly created gardens, every event has been a chance to connect, learn, and celebrate.

Working with partners like Stratford Town Trust, we built bug hotels to boost biodiversity, while families enjoyed environmental treasure hunts that sparked curiosity and fun. We also planted trees alongside students from The De Montfort School, helping young people experience the joy of giving back to nature.

We ran 7 open community events in Stratford-upon-Avon in total with a diverse mix of community members.

Community Veg Growing

During the growing season we embarked on a veg growing journey that involved sowing, growing, harvesting, learning, connection, wellbeing and the spirit of community gardening. We brought people together to grow and harvest 373kg of fresh produce which was donated to the local community to cook with, eat and enjoy.

The project was thanks to the support of Heart of England Community Foundation’s ‘Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire Communities Fund’, The Kind Communities – Kind Food Grant from Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA).

Harvest Share

Through our Harvest Share project this autumn, volunteers got outdoors, had fun, enjoyed great exercise, and gave back. Together we picked 477kg of fruit, including apples and plums, from local orchards and gardens. This prevented waste and allowed us to donate the harvest to care homes, food shelters, and animal sanctuaries, making a real difference for people, communities, and nature.

Other Impact Numbers

• 57 bird boxes created and erected in gardens to give our feathered friends a home.

• 35 bug and bee hotels created to offer safe nesting spaces that boost pollination, support biodiversity, and help vital pollinators thrive.

• We built 2 compost bays from scrap wood salvaged from skips, turning garden and other waste into nutrient‑rich compost that reduces landfill, enriches our soil, and supports healthier, more sustainable growth. In total we created 5 tonnes of compost that went straight back into our gardens.

Trustees

We were delighted to welcome 4 new trustees to the team, each bringing fresh expertise, diverse perspectives, and a shared passion for strengthening our mission. Linda Baines, Daniel Gate, Teresa Tra My Insua Luu and Alex Drozd joined the Forest of Hearts family.

Green Tourism Gold

We were delighted to be awarded the Green Tourism Gold accreditation - the highest recognition for sustainability excellence in the tourism and hospitality sector. This milestone reflected our unwavering commitment to sustainability in our every day practices and in the creation of nature-positive spaces that nurture biodiversity, wellbeing, and community connection.

Thank you

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful volunteers, corporate partners, donors, community groups, facilitators, team members, trustees and incredibly generous funders, whose support over the past 12 months has amplified our impact, strengthened our mission, and inspired us with their generosity and commitment. Here’s to the next 12 months.