Volunteers
Attendance at our volunteer days has remained steady, but low numbers have again meant we haven’t done everything we would have liked to do this year.
Increased organiser availability in 2026 should allow us to expand our offering throughout the week for groups who want to volunteer, having previously been mostly limited to weekends.
Community engagement
We have continued to cultivate the relationship between young people and the forest, and hosted children from the Swindon Academy school for the fourth year in a row over the summer.
A new relationship with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is being established. As part of their own outreach work with the Swindon Academy school, they are using the forest for practical sessions with the children, and we are working with them to develop a series of activities that the children can carry out.
An initiative has been kicked off to engage with local people and organisations around the issue of mental health and wellbeing, and how the forest can contribute to work in that area. Initial contact has been made with the borough council and local mental health charity, and the intention is to develop this during 2026.
Highlights and lowlights
We have written a long-term development plan for the forest, which will go out for consultation in the spring of 2026. This describes the different environments in the forest and the proposals for the management of each of those areas for the promotion of
increased biodiversity and encouragement of wildlife. It also outlines the ways in which the area will be managed for the continued enjoyment of local people for recreation, health, and wellbeing.
Vandalism continues to be a problem, with damage to the weir bridge, benches, and trees this year.
In summary
There are three areas discussed above that we hope will secure our long-term future:
-
Developing our relationships with local people and organisations, to strengthen our position in the local community.
-
Getting buy-in from the council for our development plan.
-
Increasing volunteer engagement.
Hreod Burna Urban Forest Charity Number 1155603 Income and Expenditure Account 2024/25
Balance of funds (£)
| alance of funds (£) | |
|---|---|
| Balance brought forward | 2,230.40 |
| Income 2024/25 | 222.00 |
| Less expenditure 2024/25 | (283.00) |
| Total funds | 2,169.40 |
| Bank Account | 2,057.64 |
| Petty cash held | 111.76 |
| Total funds | 2,169.40 |
| ncome 2024/25 | |
| Members subs & donations | 222.00 |
| Total Income | 222.00 |
| xpenditure 2024/25 | |
| Insurance | 252.00 |
| Rent | 1.00 |
| Room Hire | 30.00 |
| Total Expenditure | 283.00 |