Report (click here to download the report)

Since it was launched in September 2006, the Forest of Avon Wood School project has engaged 2232 children, provided training and mentoring for 832 teachers and involved 903 people in community engagement events in green space in areas of high IMD from across the West of England.  The original target of engaging 3300 people in the project has already been fully exceeded with 6 months of further programmes yet to be delivered.

A key aim of the project is to facilitate ongoing access to green space for beneficiary groups following support from the project and data is currently being collated to document this and other longer term impacts of the project.

A notable success feature of the project has been the delivery of targeted projects which have served to catalyse the ongoing use of green space for education and recreation and have provided models of best practise for delivery elsewhere, attracting regional and national interest.

Wood School has to date delivered 11 community events across the West of England building on the involvement of schools, which have served to widen involvement and engagement in local green space and woodlands in areas of high IMD.

This report summarises case studies from each of the 4 West of England unitary authorities which demonstrate the ethos, delivery and impact of Wood School.