Annual Report 2025
**hello@forestofhearts.com**
**1**
**forestofhearts.com**
## **Forest of Hearts**
## **Annual Report**
**November 1st 2024 - October 31st 2025**
_Creating a greener, healthier and more sustainable future where people, places and nature thrive_
**2**
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
## **Contents**
**Introduction - Page 3**
**Governance and New Trustees - Page 4 Green Tourism - Page 5**
**Volunteers - Page 6**
**Green Team Events - Page 7 & 8 Green Therapy - Page 9, 10 & 11 Garden Creation - Page 12 & 13 Garden of Arden - Page 14 Community Veg Growing - Page 15 Community Events - Page 16**
**Coaching for work and wellbeing - Page 17 Harvest Share - Page 18 Our impact in numbers - Page 19 Financials - Page 20 Thank you - Page 21 Charity information - Page 22**
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Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
## **Introduction**
This year, at Forest of Hearts we have continued to grow communities, improve wellbeing, and enhance local green spaces ‑ through practical, nature based projects. Our annual report highlights the progress we’ve made, the partnerships that made it possible, and the positive impact felt across Warwickshire.
Thanks to the commitment of our volunteers, partners, and supporters, we’ve expanded our reach, strengthened our programmes, and created more opportunities for people to connect with nature and each other. The pages ahead share the results of that collective effort.
**Forest of Hearts** Annual Report 2025
**4**
## **Governance and New Trustees**
This year marked the beginning of a new era as we welcomed four exceptional new trustees whose combined expertise strengthens our mission and deepens our impact.
**Linda Baines,** our new Chair, brings distinguished leadership from ‑ ‑ senior public sector management and a passion for nature based wellbeing. **Daniel Gate** , our Finance Trustee, adds strategic financial insight from his international career in accounting and
‑ sustainability focused organisations. **Tra My Insua Luu** contributes a global perspective shaped by her background in law, sociology, and ‑ sustainable development, alongside hands on experience in biodiversity and ESG reporting. **Alex Drozd** , with decades of ‑ experience in education, community arts, and award winning creative practice, enriches our governance with systems thinking and a longstanding commitment to our charity.
We extend our thanks to our outgoing trustees for their dedicated service, steady guidance, and the strong foundations they have helped to build; their contributions have enabled us to grow confidently into this new chapter.
**Forest of Hearts** Annual Report 2025
**5**
## **Green Tourism**
This year, we were proud to achieve the Green Tourism Gold Award, a recognition of our strong commitment to sustainability, community wellbeing, and responsible environmental practice. The certification reflects the high standards we uphold across our projects from biodiversity ‑ enhancement and low impact land management to inclusive community programmes and ethical operational choices.
Green Tourism highlighted our strengths in areas such as resource efficiency, habitat creation, community engagement, accessibility, and ‑ carbon conscious working practices. The award also acknowledges the positive impact of our Green Therapy, Green Team Events, and Harvest Share initiatives, all of which demonstrate how environmental action and social value can go hand in hand.
Achieving Gold is an important milestone for our charity. It validates the work we do every day, strengthens our credibility with partners and funders, and reinforces our commitment to leading by example in the environmental sector. Most importantly, it reflects the dedication of our volunteers, trustees, facilitators, and supporters who help us deliver meaningful, sustainable change across Warwickshire.
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
**6**
## **Volunteers**
This year, 291 volunteers contributed an impressive 3,418 hours to the Forest of Hearts, a testament to the strength and generosity of our community. These hours were brought to life by an extraordinary range of volunteers, from corporate teams and community groups to skilled specialists, students, retirees, and individuals seeking connection, purpose, or simply the joy of being outdoors.
Each person brought their own experience, creativity, and enthusiasm, enriching our projects and enabling us to deliver meaningful activities across wellbeing, biodiversity, and community engagement.
Our volunteers remain the beating heart of our organisation, and their collective contribution continues to shape everything we achieve. Thank you to everyone who gave their time, skills, and wholehearted support this year, we couldn’t do any of this without you.
Volunteer hours
3,418
Total Volunteers
291
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
**7**
## **Green Team Events**
We’re proud to reflect on a vibrant charity year of Green Team Events ‑ ‑ from energising team building experiences to hands on volunteering ‑ and tree planting days that made a real difference.
We’ve had the pleasure of connecting with a wide range of corporate groups who share our passion for the environment. Many joined us as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Social Governance, social value, and volunteering initiatives, strengthening the positive impact we created together. Their enthusiasm, impact, and sense of fun have made this year truly memorable.
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
**8**
**18**
**11**
Corporate Team Companies Events
The corporate groups who joined us ranged from local partners such as NFU Mutual to companies travelling from across the country to be part of the experience.
**Forest of Hearts** Annual Report 2025
**9**
## **Green Therapy**
Our Green Therapy programme continued to demonstrate the ‑ profound impact that nature based activities can have on wellbeing, ‑ confidence, and connection. Through hands on sessions in horticulture, craft, and woodwork, participants developed practical skills while also building creativity, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose. The programme has helped reduce isolation, strengthen employability and life skills, and deepen understanding of sustainability, biodiversity, and wider environmental issues.
We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved and grateful to everyone who has contributed to this growing movement. Our thanks go to programme organisers and group facilitators Carole Longden, Tom Donnison, Dawn McCarroll, and Peter Shum, and to Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and Lexi Ireland for their invaluable grant funding and ongoing support. Together, we are cultivating healthier communities and brighter futures.
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
**10**
**67**
**Participants**
**382**
Hours Delivered
## **Green Therapy Impact**
**7**
Warwickshire Locations
Our Green Therapy programme not only strengthens the mental health and wellbeing of the individuals who take part, but the work we do together also creates ripples of benefit for other people, local places, and the environment.
92%
of participants reported improved mental health and wellbeing
**3** WCAVA awards
**9**
**Tons of compost created from garden waste**
**6 9 Wellbeing Gardens coaches trained maintained**
**300**
**Trees Planted**
**2,500+**
**Plants & bulbs planted**
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
**11**
## **James’ London Marathon**
‑ ‑ One of our amazing volunteers, James Morrison, a 45 year old from ‑ ‑ Stratford upon Avon, completed an extraordinary challenge. Despite being severely sight impaired, James took on one of the most iconic endurance events, the London Marathon, supported every step of the way by his running guide.
What makes James’s achievement even more inspiring is his generosity and commitment to giving back. Through sponsors and donations, he raised an incredible £1,000 for our charity, choosing to support our Green Therapy programme because he was once a member himself and has seen first-hand the powerful impact it has on people’s mental health and wellbeing.
When asked why he selected Forest of Hearts, James shared his passion for nature and the improvement of mental health and wellbeing. James said, “Forest of Hearts supported me through their Green Therapy programme when my mental health was very low and I was financially struggling. They helped me get out of the house, access nature and taught me how to live again. I learned life skills and gained connections within the town too. It really helped me gain confidence and improve my mental health and I've now been off anti-depressants for 5 years”
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
**12**
## **Garden Creation**
This year, we were busy bringing new pockets of colour, calm, and connection to life across Stratford-upon-Avon through creating community gardens.
Each project was shaped by the people and places around it, creating green spaces that supported wellbeing, wildlife, and strengthen community pride.
From gardens in NHS settings, to bustling transport hubs and vibrant residential spaces, our teams and volunteers have worked side by side to transform underused areas into thriving gardens that offer beauty, sanctuary, and environmental benefit.
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
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## **Gardens We Created**
We created a welcoming garden outside the new Stratford Hospital ‑ Community Diagnostic Building, planting pollinator friendly species to bring colour and calm to the space. The result is an attractive series of planters and decorative stone arranged around the building, enhancing wellbeing for patients, staff, and visitors.
We also transformed the courtyard at Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital ‑ into a peaceful garden filled with colourful and wildlife friendly planting to create a restorative space for all.
‑ ‑ We created the Station Approach Garden outside Stratford upon Avon train station, crafting raised beds from recycled railway sleepers and filling them with vibrant planting to offer station users and locals a welcoming, sustainable green space.
A dedicated team of volunteers and residents came together with us to plant a new orchard, wildflower meadow, and wildlife habitats at Lavender Meadows Extra Care Housing, creating a green space for the community and local nature to enjoy.
**Forest of Hearts** Annual Report 2025
**14**
## **Garden of Arden**
‑ This year we continued to enhance and protect our five acre site, keeping a green field truly green by strengthening habitats, improving access to nature, and safeguarding the landscape for the future.
We planted 2,025 trees across the site with the combined efforts of corporate groups, community volunteers, and our own team, creating vital new habitats for wildlife, enhancing the wellbeing of everyone who spends ‑ time in the landscape, and contributing to long term environmental recovery.
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust surveyed our wildflower meadow and confirmed a thriving habitat with over 40 native wildflower species, abundant pollinators, and clear evidence that our management approach is significantly boosting local biodiversity.
The return of the swallows to our site marked a joyful sign of a healthy, ‑ thriving habitat, as these much loved birds once again filled the skies above our nature reserve with their acrobatic flight and familiar chatter.
**Forest of Hearts** Annual Report 2025
**15**
## **Community Veg Growing**
During the growing season we embarked on a veg growing journey that involved sowing, growing, harvesting, learning, cooking, connection, wellbeing and the spirit of community gardening.
We brought people together to grow and harvest 373kg of fresh produce which was donated to the local community to cook with, eat and enjoy. This journey strengthened our bond with nature and nurtured a shared sense of pride, purpose and wellbeing.
The project was thanks to the support of Heart of England Community Foundation’s ‘Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire Communities Fund’, The Kind Communities – Kind Food Grant from Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA).
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
**16**
## **Community Events**
We hosted a range of community events, from garden open days and apple pressing with our volunteers to environmental scavenger hunts, ‑ bug hotel building, nature reserve tours and craft workshops with ‑ Stratford Town Trust, as well as tree planting sessions with local school groups.
These activities helped people connect with nature, learn new skills, and feel more involved in caring for their local environment.
Community is at the heart of everything we do, and these events reflect our belief that shared experiences in nature help people feel connected, valued, and part of something meaningful.
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
**17**
## **Coaching for Work & Wellbeing**
We were grateful to receive funding from the City & Guilds Foundation to deliver our Coaching for Work and Wellbeing programme, designed to train volunteers to become confident, capable wellbeing coaches. Through a series of practical learning sessions at the Garden of Arden, volunteers developed core coaching skills, practised by coaching each other, and built confidence in listening, questioning, empathy and support.
Once trained, the new Coaches began working one‑to‑one with members of our Green Therapy community group, helping individuals to set and achieve personal goals, improve their wellbeing, build employability skills and complete practical tasks linked to our Autumn Goals framework. This included everything ‑ from gardening skills and communication development to confidence building activities and real‑world achievements that strengthened their CVs.
The programme also offered a flexible virtual learning pathway for a neurodiverse participant, demonstrating the value of adapting training to individual needs and highlighting the importance of inclusive learning environments. Early outcomes showed improved mental health, stronger social connections, new skill learning across the group and even one participant securing employment using the programme as evidence.
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
**18**
## **Harvest Share**
Our Harvest Share project continued to make a meaningful impact this year, funded entirely through surplus income from our corporate Green Team events. This support allowed us to run a simple but powerful programme of harvesting surplus fruit from local gardens and orchards and redistributing it to people and organisations who need it most.
Throughout the season, volunteers helped us pick apples, pears, and ‑ ‑ plums from across Stratford upon Avon, ensuring good food didn’t go to waste. The fruit was shared with care homes, hospitals, food banks, community groups, and local residents, while any damaged fruit was ‑ passed on to animal sanctuaries to keep the project truly zero waste.
A highlight of the year was our Community Apple Pressing at ‑ ‑ Stratford upon Avon Hospital, where freshly picked apples were turned into juice for staff, patients, and visitors. The event brought people together, celebrated local produce, and demonstrated how community action can create immediate, positive impact.
Harvest Share is a clear example of how corporate generosity directly fuels community benefit. Thanks to this model, we’ve been able to strengthen local food resilience, reduce waste, and bring people together through the simple act of sharing a harvest. This year we harvested and donated 477kg.
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
**19**
**291**
Amazing Volunteers
**382**
Volunteer Hours
## **Our Impact in Numbers**
**2,025**
Trees Planted
We proudly reflect on another twelve months of creating gardens, running Green Therapy, delivering Green Team Events and engaging the community in projects all with the mission of helping people, places and nature thrive.
**382**
Hours of Green Therapy **7**
**5**
Community gardens created
**477 kg**
**18**
Corporate events
**5**
**373 kg**
Veg grown & donated
**6**
Green Therapy groups
Fruit picked & donated
Tonnes of Wellbeing compost coaches trained created
**Forest of Hearts** Annual Report 2025
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## **Financials**
## **Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves** :
The policy for holding reserves is to maintain at least six months of running costs in reserve.
**Details of any funds materially in deficit** : N/A
The charity is in a strong financial position, with sufficient cash in the bank to deliver our various projects. As we are still in our early years, we are taking a prudent and carefully managed approach to our finances.
Income £149,050 Expenditure £125,530 Cash Funds £132,248
**The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 30th June. Signed on behalf of the Board by Daniel Gate.**
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
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## **Thank You**
Thank you to everyone who has been part of the Forest of Hearts community this year. Every garden grown, tree planted, and life supported is possible because of you.
We’re deeply grateful to our volunteers, corporate partners, funders, donors, supporters, facilitators, and trustees for your dedication, generosity, and belief in our mission.
**This report is formally approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by Dr Linda Baines, Chair of Trustees.**
Annual Report 2025
**Forest of Hearts**
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## **Charity Information**
**forestofhearts.com hello@forestofhearts.com 07774424404**
## **Registered Charity Number:**
1160589
## **Address:**
Forest of Hearts 15 Ensign Westwood Way Coventry CV4 8JA
## **Find us on:**
LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram
Keep up to date with all our projects on our website blog - **forestofhearts.com/blog**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Forest of Hearts 1160589
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 01/11/2024 31/10/2025
To
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations and Membership 4,878 - - 4,878 2,488
Interest 632 - - 632 489
Grants 51,947 - - 51,947 49,556
Income contract 72,779 - - 72,779 114,590
income events 18,751 - - 18,751 16,072
income hire - - - - -
income general 62 - - 62 30
income social investment - - - - -
- - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
AR) [ 149,050 ] - - 149,050 183,225
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 149,050 - - 149,050 183,225
A3 Payments
Expenses & Maintenance 476 - - 476 102
cost of goods 19,811 - - 19,811 41,374
Advertising 419 - - 419 632
Salaries 69,676 - - 69,676 55,612
Travel 10 - - 10 245
Training 1,647 - - 1,647 210
Stationery & Rent 101 - - 101 2
Telephone - - 170
insurance 425 - - 425 1,110
IT Costs 2,672 - - 2,672 4,361
Professional fee 2,210 - - 2,210 1,252
Motor Expenses 1,184 - - 1,184 1,697
Subscriptions 1,274 - - 1,274 485
Subcontractors 25,766 - - 25,766 30,021
Donations 25 - - 25 26
Rates - - - - 157
Light, Power, & Heating - - - - 99
Bank Charges 336 - - 336 689
Sub total [ 126,034 ] - - 126,034 138,242
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
Van - - - - 8,000
Office Equipment - - - - -
Building Improvements - - - - 4,849
Computer Equipment - - - - -
Plant and machinery - - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - 12,849
Total payments 126,034 - - 126,034 151,091
Net of receipts/(payments) 23,015 - - 23,015 32,134
A5 Transfers between funds - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 109,068 - - 109,068 76,934
Cash funds this year end 132,083 - - 132,083 109,068
**----- End of picture text -----**
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
04/06/2026
1
Doc ID: afa6180e6a4dd2890bfccc2fe6a336a5a411bf33
|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at**|**the end of the period**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B3 Investment assets**|Signature
Pension Liability
PAYE & National Insurance Liability
**Details**
**Details**
Van
Building Improvements
Plant and Machinery
Office equipment
Computer Equipment (laptop)
Cash at Bank
Barclaycard
PayPal
**Details**
Carole Longden private Funds
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**134,068**
**-**
**- 361**
**-**
**- 1,625**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**132,083**
**-**
OK
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
Unrestricted
**12,150**
Unrestricted
**14,045**
Unrestricted
**2,701**
Unrestricted
**170**
Unrestricted
**399**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
Unrestricted
**-**
Unrestricted
**945**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
Daniel Gate
12|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**When due**
**(optional)**
Date of
approval
/ 06 / 2026|
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
04/06/2026
2
Doc ID: afa6180e6a4dd2890bfccc2fe6a336a5a411bf33
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examinerfs
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trusteesl
membors of
0¢£sf OF
On accounts for tho year
ended
SItsI OCTOE£Ii 10
Charity no
(if any
Set out on pages
I report to thè trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (Ihe Trust.) for the year ended 3 11 i O IZOL
Respon•ibilltlo8 and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation
ba618 ol report of Ihe accounts in accordance with tho reqtJir8ments of the Charities Act
2011 ('Ihe Acl'l.
I r8POrt in respect of my examln8tion of the Trusl's accounts carried out
under seotlon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinallon, I
have folbwed the applicable Direcb'ons given by the Charfly Commlsslon
under se¢tion 14S{S)(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examlnatlon, I confim that no malerial matters have
come lo rny attention lolher than that disclosed below ') in connectlon with
the examination which glves me cause to believe that in, any material
respèct..
accounting records were not kept in accordanc8 with s8Ction 130 of
Ihe Aca or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concems and have come across no other mallers in connection
with the examination lo which attentK)n should be drawn in order to enable a
proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached.
' Please d81ele the words in Ihe brackets If they do not apply.
Date:
Independent
examlnerfs statement
Slgned:
Name:
CHkoE
Relevant professlonal
qualificatlon(¥) or body
(If any).
CCA
Addross:
qg Tsf
IER
October 2018
Section 8
Disclosure
Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32,
Independent exarnination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for
examiners).
Glve here brlef detalls of
any items that the
oxaminer wishes lo
disclosa.
IER
October 2018