Help us save a local woodland and preserve a beautiful piece of the Chilterns landscape with all its wildlife!

Finings Wood lies is in the Chilterns Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Chilterns is one of the most wooded areas in England, with almost half of its woodlands being ancient – an irreplaceable habitat taking hundreds of years to establish. Such places are crucial for wildlife, soils, carbon capture and contributing to improving biodiversity. Finings Wood plays host to a huge range of species, including bats, veteran trees, birds, mammals and fungi.

But Finings Wood is under threat from wood-lotting and development.

Finings Wood Community Group in High Wycombe are campaigning to save this precious piece of woodland. They need around £600,000 to purchase the land. They have already raised an amazing £15,000 through donations, and are awaiting funds and applying for grants, but they need help to reach their target of £30,000 to purchase the woodland and preserve it for the community forever. The campaign is running through Aviva’s Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund, which is helping community groups across the UK take action for nature.

The great news is that for every £1 given, Save Our Wild Isles will provide £1 match funding – so, for example, the maximum donation of £250 becomes £500!

The deadline for donations is 13th December 2023. Please give generously: www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/finings-woodrooted-in-the-community

The committee proposing the purchase of Finings Wood is already well experienced in woodland and conservation work. If successful in saving Finings Wood, this growing community group will give their time to manage the woodland for the benefit of the local community and local wildlife.

The Chalk, Cherries and Chairs (CCC) Landscape Partnership scheme have been supporting the group and providing advice as needed. Nick Marriner, Landowner Engagement Officer with CCC, says, “Chilterns’ woodlands are a special, much-loved feature of our local landscape, and are incredibly important for our heritage, culture and wildlife. We are excited to be supporting such an energetic, community-led project to secure these woods for the future for both wildlife and people.”

Access to woodlands and other public open spaces within the Chilterns is of particular importance for the health and wellbeing of people. CCC is keen to widen access to these spaces and to support local community groups to develop and help look after them. Find out more about Finings Wood Community Group

Help Finings Wood and donate here today!