When Wood Could Should set out to transform 8.5 acres of low-grade pastureland in Somerset into a thriving woodland, they knew it would take dedication, collaboration, and time. As a Community Interest Company founded in 2022 by three friends concerned about the biodiversity crisis, their story closely mirrors that of Protect Earth. Naturally, our paths crossed. With aligned goals and a shared commitment to ecological restoration, Protect Earth has been proud to support Wood Could Should in bringing West Field Wood to life.
West Field Wood: A Landscape Ready for Renewal
Nestled within an area rich in biodiversity, West Field Wood has all the ingredients for a flourishing natural habitat. It borders over two acres of existing woodland on two sides and is home to Stockingford Water, a meandering brook that nourishes a valuable wet woodland—officially designated as a Local Wildlife Site. The remaining trees are remnants of ancient woodland, hinting at what once stood here and what could be restored with careful planning and stewardship.
Wood Could Should took a thoughtful approach, spending a year researching the best rewilding techniques to ensure their plans complemented the surrounding landscape. This commitment to sustainability made the partnership with Protect Earth a natural fit.
5,000 Saplings and Counting: A Collaborative Effort
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Every session is started making sure everyone knows they’re welcome, what the day’s plan is, and who they can go to with questions. [/caption]
In 2024, Protect Earth supported Wood Could Should in planting their first 2,000 saplings. But the work was far from finished. In early 2025, volunteers gathered again to plant another 2,850 trees, pushing the total beyond 5,000 when accounting for the self-sown oaks Wood Could Should protected in 2023.
Despite the winter setting, the atmosphere was anything but cold. On the first day, the sun shone brightly, and some volunteers even worked in t-shirts. The weekend brought cooler, overcast conditions, but spirits remained high. Volunteers included friends and family of the Wood Could Should founders, local community members, and corporate teams from London.
The Power of Community and Shared Experience
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Woodlands are great. So are cakes. [/caption]
Managing such a large group required coordination, and Protect Earth helped structure the efforts by dividing volunteers into teams, ensuring everyone had a meaningful role in the project.
Conversations flowed as volunteers swapped stories, learned from one another, and connected over what they were creating for nature.
Wood Could Should kept morale high, organising delicious food through a neighbour, setting up gazebos for shelter, and ensuring that every volunteer felt welcomed and valued.
The sense of camaraderie extended into the evenings. Wood Could Should hosted volunteers at the local pub, fostering deeper connections and strengthening the growing community dedicated to this woodland’s future.
A Woodland in the Making
West Field Wood is still in its early days, but its potential is undeniable. The trees planted today will shape a woodland woven together of ancient woodland that is naturally regenerating and new growth saplings planted by everyone.
Over time, everything will merge with all the strengths of the ancient woodland, blending with the new growth to form more than 10 acres of rich soil and woodland primed for an explosion of biodiversity.
Have land to restore? Protect Earth can help. Whether it’s woodland, wetlands, or wildflower meadows, we offer practical support to bring your vision to life.
