Coopersale Community

In October 2024 Coopersale Community was awarded £10,000 from Aviva Community Fund for an environmental action project, supported by our insurance broker, WB Baxter Ltd. Our project, ‘Forest Fun for Everyone’, aims to increase our collective understanding of biodiversity, wildlife and the protection the forest provides the village.

This project will highlight the uniqueness of Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve which is rated as a Site of Specific Scientific Interest and protected by Natural England and Essex Wildlife Trust. Participants will gain skills so that they can take active steps to protect and maintain the forest: reduce dumping of ‘green’ waste in the forest, limit ‘straying’ into sensitive areas (e.g. badger setts, insect colonies), understand how the forest filters the air we breathe and reduces the noise from the motorway that runs alongside the village.  

We believe by instilling awareness, appreciation and respect for the forest, people will make better everyday choices that support the environment. We aim for a reduction in littering and an increase in planting for pollinators and biodiversity. Overall, we want people to feel that taking environmental action comes naturally and easy. It will be these small shifts in behaviour that create incremental change.

‘Forest Fun for Everyone’ includes:

• Four public events, check out our 'Events' page for details

• One-full day session for each year group at Coopersale & Theydon Garnon C of E Primary Schools

• A downloadable map and activity trail for Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve  (Click to download/print from home)

• Two large information boards for Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve

Many thanks to:

Connor Butler (ecologist) for developing and delivering the events, school programme and map/trail.

Essex Wildlife Trust for their guidance and support to deliver this project.

Aviva Community Fund and WB Baxter Ltd for the funds and support to make this project possible.