The Borders Forest Trust is celebrating its 20th anniversary!
Reviving the Wild Heart of Southern Scotland
THE Borders Forest Trust (www.bordersforesttrust.org) is an environmental charity formed in 1996 to develop and manage ambitious habitat restoration and community woodland projects.
Begins a spokesperson: “Over 99 per cent of our native woodlands have been lost in the Scottish Borders and BFT was formed in response to public enthusiasm for restoring these woodlands and wild places.
“Over the last 20 years, we have planted around 1,000,000 native trees and shrubs on our own land and a similar number in co-operation with local landowners.
“We have helped thousands of people of all ages, through our volunteering and education programmes, to understand and appreciate their local natural environment.”
From humble beginnings, the charity has grown considerably and today owns three significant and remarkable sites in the Southern Uplands, known as the Wild Heart of Southern Scotland.
The spokesperson adds: “In keeping with our ethos of people and woodlands belong together, we have set about Reviving the Wild Heart of Southern Scotland through demonstrating excellence in ecological restoration of our own properties, and through partnerships encouraging the development of woodland culture, enabling people to access woodlands, developing habitats and supporting environmentally sustainable economic activity.
“In order to achieve this, we carry out a wide variety of work with people and communities. People come to our programmes for a variety of reasons including health needs, work experience, a love of woodlands and for learning opportunities.
“By offering diverse experiences from volunteering to therapeutic activities to school programmes and the learning of traditional skills, we enable people of different ages, skills and backgrounds to get outside and feel part of the woodlands.”
The charity’s work is supported by over 700 members and supporters from near and far and from all walks of life. We are always seeking new members to help us to continue our valuable work.
The start of the charity’s 20th anniversary year is to be marked with a celebratory reception at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 2nd March, hosted by Jim Hume MSP.
The occasion will offer the opportunity to bring together supporters, partner organisations and funders, both to celebrate the charity’s achievements to date, but also to look to future plans which enable it to continue its work Reviving the Wild Heart of Southern Scotland.
Concludes the spokesperson: “We hope that at this exciting time of development, and in celebration of 20 years of remarkable achievements, you will feel able to support us through the coming year by acknowledging and publicising our work.”
ENDS
Notes: Please contact Sue Hope (email: sue@thehopeconsultancy.org.uk or phone: 07702 812987 for further information on the work of Borders Forest Trust and editorial possibilities.
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The Hope Consultancy contact details…
Contact: Sue Hope
Phone: 07702812987
Email: sue@thehopeconsultancy.org.uk
Website: http://www.bordersforesttrust.org
