A Shared Vision: Connecting People and Trees 

Raise: Cumbria Community Forest might be young—launched in 2022—but it’s part of a much bigger story. As one of England’s Community Forests, they’re part of a network that stretches back over 30 years and now forms the largest environmental regeneration initiative in the country.

They work in partnership with communities, landowners, and businesses to help nature recover and to bring green spaces into more people’s daily lives.

At Arbortec, we don’t see forests as isolated work zones—we see them as living systems that support learning, healing, creativity, and climate action. That’s why this partnership resonates with us. It supports forestry not just as a trade, but as a culture—one deeply rooted in community and care.

Who Raise Are: More Than Trees

Raise isn’t just about planting trees. They’re reimagining what woodlands can be: more inclusive, more creative, and more connected to how people really experience the world.

As a neurodivergent-led organisation, Raise centres neurodivergent perspectives in their work—reshaping what environmental action and leadership can look like, and helping create stronger ecosystems and more inclusive communities.

Their long-term vision spans 1,300 square miles of Cumbria, with a 25-year plan to improve access to woodlands and treescapes. They champion community-led woodland creation, stewardship, nature-based health, and cultural engagement—and we’re proud to support those efforts with the tools and gear that help bring them to life.

Why This Partnership Matters

Together, we’re committed to making forestry safer and more accessible, as well as working towards a future where people’s wellbeing and the health of our woodlands go hand in hand.

Here’s what we’ll be working on together:

• Equipping communities involved in planting and woodland care with the right tools and knowledge to work safely and confidently.
• Co-designing inclusive woodland programmes, led by neurodivergent participants, to create better and fairer access for all. 
• Celebrating forest culture through arts and storytelling, weaving together past and present, and inspiring visions of a greener, healthier future.

Rethinking What a Forest Can Be

We see trees as so much more than carbon storage and flood defence. We see them as central to the wellbeing of our communities.

Research shows well-planned woodlands:

• Help improve mental health by reducing stress and anxiety.
• Support physical wellbeing, lowering risks of respiratory disease, heart failure, and more.
• Offer rich places for learning and play, especially for children and young people.
• Build stronger communities through shared experiences, local pride, and care.
• Boost local economies, from property values to supporting jobs in agroforestry.

Through this partnership, we want to help open up these benefits across Cumbria, especially in places where access to green space is limited.

A Forest That Belongs to Everyone

Co-creation is central to Raise’s work—and it’s something we strongly believe in at Arbortec. We’re committed to listening, opening doors, and championing voices that often go unheard in traditional forestry spaces.

By partnering with Raise, we’re taking a meaningful step toward a future where forestry is both safer and more inclusive. While our gear protects the people working in the woods, Raise helps connect communities to those same spaces.

What's Next?

In the months ahead, we’ll be working together to co-host events and initiatives that help people get closer to their landscapes—and to each other:

Look out for:

• New forest hubs stocked with safety gear and learning resources.
• Workshops and exhibitions led by artists inspired by trees and forestry.
• Stories shining a light on the people behind the trees.

Having Raise as a partner brings us closer to a shared goal: a thriving network of trees and people across Cumbria.

We’re not just supporting forestry—we’re helping build a community forest culture.