Building Resilience Among the Trees: How a Forgotten Victorian Arboretum Is Supporting Mental Wellbeing

South Gloucestershire, 28th September 2026: What if the ingredients for building resilience weren't found in a clinic, but beneath the canopy of a 170-year-old tree?

That is the idea being put into practice at Tortworth Arboretum, a 20-acre woodland on the Cotswold edge just north of Bristol, where a forgotten Victorian collection of trees has been transformed into a thriving community woodland, and an unusual setting for wellbeing support.

The story begins with the trees. In 1853, Henry Moreton, 3rd Earl of Ducie, began planting specimens gathered from North America, China, Japan and the Caucasus. He continued for almost 70 years, creating a remarkable collection containing more than 185 species, some of which are now among the largest of their kind recorded in Britain.

But the arboretum's fortunes changed. After years of use including wartime billets and a pioneering rehabilitation programme with HMP Leyhill, the woodland fell into more than a decade of neglect.

Eleven years ago, local volunteers were supported to reignite the arboretum by woodlands.co.uk. Today, that volunteer group has evolved into Tortworth Forest Centre, a community interest company restoring the woodland while creating opportunities for people to reconnect with nature, learn practical skills and improve their wellbeing.

Crucially, woodlands.co.uk has made the woodland available to Tortworth Forest Centre free of charge, giving the organisation a 20-acre living landscape in which to develop its work.

And here, the woodland is not simply the setting for the work. It is part of the work.

At The Dell at Tortworth, volunteers, families and people referred for mental health support spend time coppicing, cooking, planting, foraging, whittling and working together among the trees. Since the pandemic, referrals to the Woodland Wellbeing Programme have risen steadily, with around two in five referrals specifically naming trauma, PTSD or CPTSD.

Rather than attempting to 'fix' people, Tortworth Forest Centre takes a trauma-informed approach based around safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment and cultural consideration. The aim is to create an environment where people can feel safe enough to make choices, try something new, connect with others and discover what they are capable of.

A Redwood Project participant, says "When I started I wasn't able to do social things (or a lot of things) independently because of anxiety. I've been able to develop my social skills and have the time and space to feel connected and closer to nature. I've spent a lot more time outside too as it's motivated me to get out more."

The approach is also underpinned by the PERMA model of positive psychology, but rather than treating it as a theory to be discussed, Tortworth puts it into practice through everyday woodland activities.

Positive emotion might come from a quiet cup of tea, spotting wildlife or simply noticing the changing seasons. Engagement comes through activities that encourage people to become absorbed in what they are doing, whether that's cooking, woodwork, willow weaving or foraging. Relationships develop naturally through small groups, shared tasks and consistent faces. Meaning comes from being part of something bigger, caring for a woodland, tending a garden or contributing to a long-term project. And accomplishment comes from setting achievable goals, learning new skills and seeing tangible evidence of progress.

It can be as simple as learning to light a fire, completing a piece of woodwork or watching something you planted begin to grow.

Another project participant says "Finding connection with nature and a group of wonderful women. The joy, laughs, and acceptance recharge me and give me confidence for the rest of the week"

For Anton Baskerville, woodland expert at woodlands.co.uk, Tortworth demonstrates the wider value that woodland can offer. “We often talk about woodlands in terms of timber, biodiversity and the environment, but their value to people can be just as significant. Tortworth is a brilliant example of what can happen when a woodland is given the space to become part of a community's life. Woodlands.co.uk is proud to make the site available to Tortworth Forest Centre, because it shows how woodland can support people as well as trees, giving people opportunities to learn, contribute, connect and build confidence.”

The woodland's transformation has not happened overnight. Volunteers have spent years clearing paths, managing trees, restoring habitats and bringing neglected parts of the arboretum back to life. In doing so, they have also created a place where people can make their own contribution to something that will outlive them.

Today, Tortworth is both a restoration project and a working woodland community. The site relies on donations and grants, while woodland hire for retreats, wild camping, workshops and celebrations generates income that helps support its wider community and wellbeing work.

For woodlands.co.uk, it is a powerful example of what can happen when a woodland is given a purpose beyond simply being owned and when people are given the opportunity to become part of its story.

A collection of trees planted more than 170 years ago is now helping people put down roots of their own.

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Editors notes

Founded with a mission to make woodland ownership accessible and enjoyable, Woodlands.co.uk offers private woodlands for sale across the UK. The company provides resources and guidance for new owners to explore creative ways of managing their woodlands for personal and community benefit. Whether for conservation, leisure, or environmental education, Woodlands.co.uk empowers individuals to steward and protect their woodlands for generations to come.