Raise: Cumbria Community Forest

Launched in 2021 and covering 1385 square miles, Cumbria’s Community Forest hugs the western edge of the Lake District National Park and stretches from the northern city of Carlisle to the post-industrial towns in the south. We plant new trees as well as improving the management of existing woodland areas. By connecting these new and existing habitats, we create a community forest comprising healthy ribbons of woodland, that not only improves biodiversity, but also increases access to nature for local people. Working with communities to plant trees and develop woodland, we create opportunities for people of all ages to engage with green spaces. Our aim? To increase economic, environmental, health and social benefits, resulting in a positive impact on both people and nature. Our flexible funding helps landowners to maximise the potential of their land, supporting woodland creation and ongoing management and maintenance. Funding also importantly supports activities to engage communities with the development of these green spaces, establishing connections and fostering ownership. Our experienced team provides tailored guidance throughout the process, ensuring that plans meet the needs and expectations of all involved. Raise, the home and champion of Cumbria’s Community Forest, is a collective of science-led foresters, artists, makers and academics. We have a multidisciplinary approach, using woodland and trees as a framework within which we can explore, develop, create and learn. We meaningfully engage with communities who face the greatest barriers to long-term engagement with nature, particularly neurodivergent people. Each project is unique, designed to suit the needs of the site and the communities that surround it. We believe that it takes a community to raise a forest. Come and join us.