Protect Earth UK

So little is being done about 38,000 hectares of woodland being destroyed by invasive Rhododendron Ponticum and Cherry Laurel (that for some reason are both still legal to sell in the U.K.?!) that the BBC noticed our event and came along to shine a light on the process. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

We love sharing our podcasts, and this one is particularly special. Join us for an unforgettable night spent with the elusive pine martens. #wildlife #podcasts Listen wherever you get your podcasts or on our website via this link: wildlife-matters.org/067-a-night-...

If you live near Thatcham, Berks, pop down to this lovely little wood for a few hours on Thursday, 22nd or Friday, 23rd October and help us get rid of the invasive rhododendrons that are trying to take it over. Rhodo bashing is very satisfying. protect.earth/events/volun...

In the morning we coppiced, in the afternoon we used some of that wood to build stairs up a fallen down dry stone retaining wall between two fields. The Warleigh Nature Reserve Task Force is growing in number and everyone is skilling up as we go!

The UK economy spends £4bn a year removing invasive species like cherry laurel, yet it can still be sold in garden centres. Cherry laurel is easily spread, forming dense clumps in woodlands, releasing cyanide, and shading out other species. We'd like to see it banned. protect.earth/articles/che...

A beautiful four-spotted orb spider, spotted by one of our team members when carrying out some routine tree maintenance at one of our planting sites near Radstock, Somerset.

Did you know that around 97% of our wildflower meadows have disappeared in the UK, bringing some species of wildlife that rely on them to the brink of extinction? We are working to restore some of these meadows, in particular at Warleigh Nature Reserve near Bath. shop.protect.earth/products/gra...

Have you ever seen a beaver cleaning his tummy? It’s incredibly cute.

Beavers live along the entire River Avon, from source through Bristol and Bath all the way to to Avonmouth. Who’s Van did they fall of the back of to get there? We can’t say, but Warleigh Nature Reserve is lucky enough to have *two* colonies, and we love watching them get about their business.

We’ve just had the Environment Agency out for a wander around Warleigh Nature Reserve and they’re huge fans of our vision! They’ve got some ideas of their own far beyond what we’d considered, so together we can make something fantastic on the River Avon. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/warleigh-n...

Onwards! Site Manage Sam has been tackling the entire trail network across Warleigh Nature Reserve today. Boldly going where no ride-on mower has gone before. Four days worth of strimming in four hours. 🫡

Ever wonder what’s the point of planting trees if they could burn in a wildfire? Which trees? Where? What’s the woodland creation plan? What’s the management plan? This is a really interesting guide that will get you thinking about woodlands differently. protect.earth/articles/wha...

Climate change is making hot, dry Summers more likely and we in the UK are not prepared. The many recent wildfires have shown us how devastating they can be and we need to make plans to prevent them, and to deal with them when they do occur. Read more here. protect.earth/articles/wha...

We’ve never planted a tree in MAY before, April was already a bit late, but we had some rescue alders and willows still clinging on. They’ve gone in the wet bits of Warleigh Nature Reserve, and the heavens opened to settle them in (before we’d finished 🤣).

One of the first things we did at Warleigh Nature Reserve was take a chainsaw to a mature willow that fell across a vehicle track. That seems destructive, but you’ll be surprised. www.instagram.com/reel/DXm9Vxw...

How many lives did you save today? For us it was hundreds! www.instagram.com/reel/DXhryEv...

Site Manager Sam found a dead young buzzard on Warleigh Nature Reserve today. We don’t know the cause, it’s been having some fights with magpies lately and potentially lost the battle, but to avoid any bird flu issues we gave the poor thing a proper burial.

So here’s a thing: the good people at @protect.earth really need your help after the government cocked up funding. So if you can, head to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/warleigh-n... and donate. Even if it’s only a fiver.

Warleigh Nature Reserve is settling in to a cadence. Every Friday the Site Manager, volunteers, and contractors do some hard stuff, like deer fencing coppice areas and build steps. Every Saturday volunteers show up at any time and do slightly more fun stuff like plant trees. Then fire and chats.

We have a new foxy friend that I would like you all to meet. He lives in Warleigh Nature Reserve and he’s slowly taking care of the pheasants that haven’t managed to run into traffic yet despite the pheasant shoot in our new woodlands closing down in 2009. We appreciate his tireless efforts.

Our wildlife cameras have caught the first visitor to the new ponds we made by blocking old drains. A heron! On the hunt for all sorts of treats in the water that didn’t exist before.

People act like woodland creation is a whole lot more complicated than it is, but the step 1 plan is find a bit of land, and step 2 is we check out, then step 3 is we grab a bunch of amazing folks to smash em in. Who you gonna call? @protect.earth - video by Fergus Dingle

It has been a long wait but the sale of the land near Bath, UK has finally gone through. We now own 81 acres of land on the banks of the River Avon which we are calling Warleigh Nature Reserve. New website on the way, but for now you can sign up here for email updates! warleighnaturereserve.org

It's still a bit early to be planting trees, so what have we been up to in October? Our favourite thing: ancient woodland restoration, and specifically rhododenderon removal! www.protect.earth/articles/rho... #AncientWoodlands #InvasiveSpecies #Biodiversity #Wales

As summers continue to get unseasonably warm and dry, reforestation proves to be a bigger challenge. Our flagship woodland creation site Goytre Hill had a rough start, with approximately 54% survival rate year one. Here’s how we’ll make year two go better. www.protect.earth/articles/goy...

Does your company donate some profits, or do employee matched donations? Not only are we on 1% for the Planet, Powered by Percent, CAF, but now we’re on BrightFunds too. Help us scale our efforts to save the world so your team can focus on work instead of existential panic. hello.brightfunds.org

Ancient woodlands don’t stop at the treeline. Plant near them, and the soil remembers. Bluebells bloom where history lingers. So… when does new become ancient? Click to read how ancient woodlands grow beyond their boundaries: buff.ly/JJ3OCDs

Ever been ambushed by a soil scientist with a boot full of gear? We were. At High Wood. And we said yes. We tested three woodland zones—conifers, ancient woodland, and newly restored ground. The results? Read the full story to see what soil life can teach us about rewilding:

Droughts are increasing. Our 140,000+ saplings face a tougher climate as England experienced its driest Feb–April since 1956,. Yet, trees help by cooling land, storing water, and reducing floods. Discover more about how young trees combat the challenges of droughts:

Not all forests are what they seem. At High Wood, beneath the conifers, are remnants of ancient woodland and are working to restore it. It’s a gradual, practical process, but the soil remembers. The oaks stand tall, and fungi, seeds, and wildlife are poised to return. Read our guide: buff.ly/hG0PvA7

Join us for the "All Day Balsam Bashing Marathon" on Sunday, 6th July, from 8 am - 8 pm. Help us tackle Himalayan Balsam between Nibley and Iron Acton to protect our local ecosystem. No experience needed—just bring your wellies and enthusiasm! Sign up via our Eventbrite page: buff.ly/aOfY1ev

Biodiversity wins when people connect. Ellie from Reuseabox heard a farmer wanted to plant 1,000 trees. She brought the tools, the team—and us. Fast forward to 300m of hedgerow, shelter belts, and a brilliant example of corporate volunteering. Read the story behind the spades: buff.ly/7bf3Trz

On 6 July, BART will be tackling Himalayan balsam on the River Frome—boosting biodiversity & protecting riverbanks one pull at a time. Protect Earth is all in—we’ve got our own balsam to bash on the Avon soon. Want to know why this pretty plant is a real problem? Full story here:

Ancient woodland = centuries of life, biodiversity, and resilience. We're working to restore these extraordinary habitats—and now you can sponsor a square metre to help. New doc by Wood for the Trees explores our work + the growing movement to protect what's left. 🌲 Read more:

1,850 native trees in 2 days 🌱 We teamed up with Screech Owl Sanctuary to plant a carbon-catching, biodiversity-boosting woodland in Cornwall. Grants covered the kit. Volunteers brought the energy. The result? A small forest and a big win for nature. Read more 👉 buff.ly/WX9PdKo #nativewoodlands

2,375 native saplings planted. 400m of hedgerow laid. 14 volunteers, 2 days, 1 brilliant smallholding. We returned to South Molton this Feb to plant biodiversity-boosting hedgerows with a landowner who gets it. Read more about the saplings, the team, and why it matters:

Ancient woodlands are precious! Learn about the restoration efforts in the UK, from halting decline to maximising ecological integrity. Watch this video to find out how to identify these vital ecosystems and the challenges they face. buff.ly/PS14X5z #AncientWoodlands #WoodlandRestoration

Hedges are vital wildlife highways, but they're disappearing. Protect Earth is running hedge-laying training courses to restore them — and the skills behind them. Learn the art of laying a living fence and help revive biodiversity across the countryside. Read more:

Beavers are back—and quietly reshaping the UK's landscape. They're not just building dams; they're building resilience. Read more about their muddy, hopeful comeback. buff.ly/n9Y9ljs #Beavers #Rewilding #UKWildlife

Big thanks to our High Wood volunteers who help maintain and restore the woodland each month. Join our monthly work party on the third weekend. For details, visit our website. Volunteering and photos: @rachelinliskeard #ProtectEarth #CommunityVolunteering #HighWood #Cornwall #WoodlandManagement

Avon Needs Trees urges the next Metro Mayor of West England to prioritise nature recovery and green growth. If these are important to you, sign their petition. If you're outside the area, sign and ask local representatives to adopt similar initiatives! buff.ly/GICuuNP #NatureIsLush #naturerecovery

Rhododendrons may be beautiful, but they’re destructive in UK woodlands. 🌿 Protect Earth recently partnered with Menston Area Nature Trust to remove these invasive species at East Wood, restoring space for native plants to flourish. Partnerships like this help us to make an impact.

In 2022, we planted 710 saplings with a farmer near Cheltenham and returned for essential maintenance. Dead saplings were replaced, and shelterbelts strengthened. Tree planting requires ongoing care for biodiversity and climate resilience. Check out our latest day on the land! buff.ly/dYiGgPe

37,417 saplings. 55.85 acres. A 14% planting increase from last season! 🌳 Protect Earth’s 2024/25 season made a lasting impact growing resilient ecosystems. Read more about our work and what’s next! www.protect.earth/articles/pro... #HabitatRestoration

High Wood's trails got a big upgrade, thanks to Shane and Ian, who added drainage a pipe to keep the trail open in all weather, with water flowing into the leaky dams down the valley and supporting accessibility and nature — a win-win. #HighWood #WoodlandImprovement #CornwallNature #EcoProjects

Learn to lay a hedge at Protect Earth’s one-day course in Goytre Wood. Gain practical skills that provide ecological benefits. Discover upcoming courses to enhance your green skills. Click to learn more! www.protect.earth/articles/how... #CommunityEngagement #GreenSkills #HedgeLaying #NatureSkills