Andover Trees United
1774. Wendy Davis
Wendy Davis, from Hampshire, founded ‘Andover Trees United’, a volunteer-led group working with schools, businesses and local authorities to improve access to natural spaces and promote wildlife conservation.
Through Wendy’s ‘Harmony Woods’ project, children and young people in the community have turned 12 acres of land into a natural urban woodland with over 8,000 trees and 40 species of wildflowers so far planted in its dedicated wildflower meadow. The organisation has also raised over £110,000 to build an off-grid, sustainable, field-study base and volunteer room, to be constructed by local carpenters who will match the building to its surrounding landscape.
In a personal letter to Wendy, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“With your army of 10,000 young volunteers, you have planted an astonishing 8,000 trees and reintroduced dozens of wildflowers across acres of land. You are creating a beautiful community woodland that promotes sustainability and gives these young people a sense of pride in their incredible work.”
Kit Malthouse, Wendy’s local MP for North West Hampshire, said:
“Hearty congratulations to Wendy on her Points of Light award. Her selfless work to reforest the borough will mean future generations of Andoverians will be blessed with plenty of glorious public woodland. In particular, her work with local schools has connected many hundreds of children with the environment and taught them the part we can all play in keeping Test Valley beautiful. Well done Wendy and thank you.”
Wendy said:
“It is wonderful for the work of ‘Andover Trees United’ and the unstinting efforts of the charity’s amazing volunteers to be acknowledged in this way. Thank you, Points of Light for recognising the Harmony Woods Project and the thousands of children who have come together, with the support of their schools, to create this new wood where people can work in harmony in nature.”
Picture credit: Sean Dillow (Andover Advertiser)