Being awarded a Community Lottery Grant Forest Harvest has been able to finance an accessible staircase. This enabled us to run courses upstairs in bad weather as well as welcoming new groups.
Two new groups also used upstairs, the Wolverhampton University in July for a workshop on forest gardening; East Staffordshire Green Party in August when there was a tour followed by some useful debating.
The Community Bloom Group was started in October 2021 and now meets every Wednesday morning, all are welcome. A beautiful community garden has been created but the main benefit is working together for mutual well-being.
Thanks to the Lottery Grant we have also been able to erect a 5m x 15m polytunnel so we can work through the Winter, and increase the growing season.
The group grew flowers for the local church to use at harvest festival and for visitors to take away.
Forest Harvest continued the work with Burton and District Mind by delivering two ecotherapy courses in 2022 and helped with their Forest Bathing days.
There were also a number of Open Days for visitors to visit the Woodmill Workshop and have a tour of our Forest Garden.
Cllr. Keys of the Yoxall Parish Council was kind enough to open our Jubilee Orchard dedicated to the Queen’s Canopy in July.
There were a number of other planting projects, Forest Harvest was involved with Dovehouse Community Garden and the wilding of a corner of the Festival Garden in Lichfield. We also helping with the planting and management of an Earth Watch Tiny Forest in Burntwood.
It was a very successful growing year for both the Charity and the Community Group. The trustees of Forest Harvest wish to thank everyone that has helped us in 2022, and BBC WM who gave us a commendation in the environmental section of their “Making a Difference Awards” for which we are very proud.
