A Decade of Growth: Celebrating 10 Years of Restoration at Tortworth Arboretum
In 2025, Tortworth Forest Centre CIC proudly marked ten years since the community first came together to restore the long-neglected Dell at Tortworth Arboretum. Once overgrown and inaccessible, this nationally significant tree collection has been transformed into a thriving, welcoming space for people, wildlife, and heritage, thanks to the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, supporters, and partners.
Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, our 10-Year Anniversary Project was a joyful celebration of everything achieved so far, and a springboard for the next decade. Throughout the year, we shared stories of people and trees through our popular Tales from Tortworth blog series, championed remarkable trees old and new, celebrated and thanked our volunteers, and reached wider audiences.
“It has been so nice seeing all the changes taking place over the anniversary year but I particularly loved the Tales from Tortworth. It was wonderful hearing all the different perspectives on the wood and how it has affected people so positively. Really uplifting.” (Volunteer)
A highlight was the planting of ten anniversary trees – including Douglas fir and giant redwood – adding to the collection for the enjoyment of future generations. Wellbeing participants took part in heartfelt planting ceremonies, deepening their sense of connection and ownership of the arboretum. The new trees also provided us with the opportunity to build relationships with individual and corporate partners who sponsored the plantings, supporting the restoration work. Volunteers installed new benches, and we also launched new visitor resources, including a Discovery Trail for families and three audio guides that bring Tortworth’s natural and cultural history to life and provide a mindfulness resource.
The centrepiece of the celebrations was our April 2025 anniversary event, which welcomed 350 people to enjoy guided walks, live music, art exhibitions, creative activities, and the unveiling of new benches. With a mix of first-time visitors and people with enduring connections to the arboretum, the day captured the welcoming, peaceful spirit of Tortworth and the pride our community feels in this special place.
“It felt like everyone took away a little nugget of something special with them that day.” (Volunteer)
“I felt it bolstered the sense of community and pride in Tortworth that we strive for.” (Managing Director)
“Being part of the anniversary celebrations at Tortworth was such a rewarding experience. From making decorations with the Hawthorn project that were proudly displayed on the day to volunteering with the staff at the event and seeing all the tireless work done to make these days happen, there was an endless feeling of pride in being a part of it all.” (Project participant)
There was a strong creative element to the celebrations too, from wellbeing groups making decorations to a community mural and artist residencies. Five artists spent time with the tree collection, using it as inspiration for new works that were displayed at the April event. This video shows Molly Lemon’s process of creating a woodblock print of an alder tree:
“I created three wood engravings inspired by Tortworth; these engravings turned out to be the most significant pieces in my career so far.” (Artist)
“It was lovely to notice and understand something of the human connection to the woodland through exploring the space. The symbiosis of the arboretum community and ecology and the human. It was great… to be a tiny drop in the ocean of a very worthwhile project.” (Artist)
The project was a truly worthwhile way to engage with our existing community in meaningful ways, while also forging new connections. Above all, it reaffirmed what Tortworth Arboretum means to so many—a place where people and trees thrive together.
As we look ahead to the next ten years, we carry forward the stories, partnerships, and shared sense of purpose that have shaped this journey so far. Thank you to everyone who has helped make Tortworth what it is today. Here’s to the next chapter of growth, restoration, and community. 🌳💚
“There is always a sense of short- and long-term satisfaction on volunteer days. Short term it is great to see how much we achieve in the day—be it clearing brambles, rhododendron, fallen trees, restoring paths, or best of all, planting new trees for the future. Long term, the way the woods have been developed over the last 10 years is fantastic. Each month you can look around and see the new trees establishing themselves, more areas cleared, with snowdrops and bluebells spreading into them.” (Volunteer)
