Bristol is surrounded by some of the UK's most beautiful countryside, with the Mendip Hills, the Somerset Levels and the Cotswolds within a short distance. But the area around the city and its close neighbour Bath - the former county of Avon - is home to some wonderful landscapes, particularly woodland. The Forest of Avon, a community forest established in 1992, covers more than two hundred square miles.

Working with sundry local and national partner organisations, the Forest has to date planted over a million trees, involved tens of thousands of people in managing and using green space and opened up numerous areas of woodland to the public.

One important aim of the Forest is to create new business opportunities, which it does through Forest of Avon Products, a non-profit co-operative that promotes the interests of local woodworkers, designers, craftspeople, timber suppliers and woodland-related enterprises.

Ventures range from a nursery growing trees from locally collected seed to a business building green oak timber stuctures; from a charcoal maker to a Forest School workshop leader and from a chainsaw sculptor to an award-winning fine furniture maker/designer. Members of Forest of Avon Products were awarded the contract to design and fit bespoke shop fittings and furniture at the newly-refurbished Ashton Court Visitor Centre.