THE charity behind plans to create a new permanent forest on 19 acres of land near Seend, is making one last fundraising appeal to the community.
Avon Needs Trees was hoping to raise £5,000 from public donations to help towards the £175,000 needed to purchase the land.
But thanks to the generosity of the community, the charity has surpassed its target and has now set an “ambitious stretch goal” of. reaching £8,000.
A spokesperson for the charity told Melksham News, “We’ve been absolutely delighted with the response our project has received from the local community and we’re so grateful to everyone who has contributed to our crowdfunder.
“We’ve smashed through our initial target of £5,000 and are now on our way to £6,000 (£5,822 at the time of writing!) but we’ve set a really ambitious stretch goal of £8,000 and it would be incredible if we could reach that before the campaign closes at 1pm on Friday 30th October.
“We’ve been doing more fundraising behind the scenes and we think we’re over half way to buying the land with everybody’s support!”
The new forest is proposed to be created on land to the north of Seend, between the village and the Kennet and Avon Canal. The remainder of the £175,000 needed to purchase the land is “anticipated” to be raised via trusts and businesses.
The charity, which launched last year, has already completed their first purchase of land – 34 acres at Hazeland between Chippenham and Calne – and is inviting Seend residents to come and visit the site.
Locals can visit the Hazeland site, on Sunday 1st November, between 10am and 4pm. Anyone interested should contact the charity on contact@avonneedstrees.org.uk. Covid-safe groups will arranged and staggered throughout the day.
To support and donate to the Avon Needs Trees fundraiser for the land at Seend, visit the website: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/avonneedstrees
Photo by Kevan Wind, Avon Needs Trees’ volunteer photographer .
