What is our scheme?

An in-depth programme to help communities design and manage their own wild spaces - for pleasure, learning, health and wildlife. Formerly entitled Community-owned Woodlands with Green Light, we have recently widened our brief to include other ecosystems that are also a part of our rich natural heritage. These may be meadows, wetlands, woodland pastures or old orchards.

Run by the community, for the community, the scheme enables children and adults alike to get closer to nature and actively participate in building a greener future.

Based on our experience since 1993 with our local project, Forest for Our Children, the focus is on 4 key elements:

Over 40 rural and urban projects are already underway with Areas of Deprivation and Rural Priority an important feature.

See a map of current WildSpace Projects.

How does it work?

Our experienced team offers in-depth assistance for up to 3 years to enable each group to become self-sufficient. This involves a series of project visits. These might include:

• An illustrated presentation to inform and inspire your community
• Guidance in forming an effective project steering group
• Enrolling commitment from your local school
• Exploring ways of acquiring land
• Training in action planning and long term management - please see Courses & Events for forthcoming activities.

Additional support includes: One-Day Training Courses; an annual Networking Day; a Toolkit of useful information and ideas.

Affiliation to Green Light is free and automatic for the first 3 years. After this, each group can choose whether or not to stay affiliated, for a small annual subscription, in return for ongoing advice and support.

Availability of land is not a prerequisite to starting a group. Full public access is ensured to all project sites.

"Without the advice, support, enthusiasm and expertise of the Green Light team, I am certain our project would never have started, as the range of depth and knowledge required was initially quite daunting"
- Susan Hollister, Chair, Wildwood, Needham Market.

Our scheme is featured as a case study in the Regional Woodland Strategy for the East of England and fulfills many of the government's targets for regeneration and sustainable communities.

In all our work we welcome partnerships with local authorities, developers, land agents and other environmental and community organisations.

Heritage Lottery Funding

We are currently engaged in a 3 year project supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund with match funding from The Tudor Trust. The project's brief is to establish 10 Community-owned Woodlands from start to full independence. The communities taking part are: Tillingham, Mayland (Essex); Woolpit, Sudbury, Bottesdale, Barnby & N. Cove (Suffolk); N. Walsham, Stoke Holy Cross, Diss, Wereham (Norfolk).

Green Light offers it's warm thanks for this support without which these exciting community initiatives would not have been possible.

Find out about From Seed to Tree

Read about Forest for Our Children

For more information please contact us on 01284 830829 or info@greenlighttrust.org