Help us buy and look after a small but perfectly formed group of goats for Tortworth Arboretum. 

Tortworth Arboretum is a community woodland that has been leased to us for social forestry - education, conservation, wellbeing, social and other events. 

We are gently restoring the arboretum with hand tools, inviting in volunteers to learn about sustainable woodland management. So far we are a year in to the project and making a huge difference to the biodiversity of the 20 acre space. For more details about the arboretum visit www.tortwortharboretum.org or visit the facebook page. 

We have been monitoring bats in the woods and are planning to keep bees, by partnering up with organisations such as the Avon Bat Group and Bee the Change. We hold bushcraft lessons, retreats and conservation events, and work with adults in recovery from addiction. We have a resident tree climber who offers tree climbing in some of our incredible veteran and exotic trees. As we open up more space we will be able to do more - and reach more people.

We have a problem with bramble regrowth and knotweed, both of which grow back faster than we can manage with hand tools. And this is where the goats come in!

Rather than using chemicals (which are well documented to kill bees and other chemical sensitive creatures), we will trial keeping goats to manage the knotweed and bramble. We believe that the goats will not only thrive in this amazing woodland but provide another opportunity to teach people about nature and sustainability. Everyone wins.

Thank you, we hope that you will choose to be a part of this experiment in woodland management using goats.

If we hit £500 we will be donated a further £500 from a private donor!

The amazing author, tv dude and spokesperson for woodlands, Robert Penn, is donating a signed copy of his latest book, The Man who made Things out of Trees.  Everyone who donates at any time will be in with a chance of winning this fascinating signed book, we will choose the winner at random at the end. More details of his book are here: http://www.penguin.co.uk/books/the-man-who-made-things-out-of-trees/9781846148422/

What do we need the money for?

Shelter. We need materials to build our goat shelter so that they have a draft free home throughout the year.

Fencing. We need to create the perfect goat-proof (if there is such a thing) home for our hooven friends.

Winter feed. We would like to have some money in the bank for their hay and feed to last the first year, while they acclimatise to the various tasty morsels available in the woods, and through the winter.

The goats themselves! We will purchase 4 goats from the St Werburghs City Farm in Bristol, who have been loved and cared for by the farm, who will stay in touch with the project throughout the lives of the goats. They will as a result be animals that welcome human company and be the perfect companions for volunteers and guests who come to the woods.

Vets fees. We need some pocket money in store for any potential health issues that they may have throughout their goaty lives.

And that is it! 

Who are we and what do we do?

Tortworth Forest Centre is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company which aims to improve lives by reconnecting people with nature, through conservation, wellbeing programmes, outdoor events, courses and volunteering opportunities. With the support of volunteers, we are restoring the arboretum for community use, making it a resource available for volunteer and community groups to learn about and enjoy nature.

The Centre is based at Tortworth Arboretum, a historically and culturally rich woodland in South Gloucestershire. The arboretum is owned and leased to us by woodlands.co.uk.