TINY FOREST, REAL IMPACT
Turning urban nature into measurable social value in Bristol
February 2026
In Bristol, 600 native trees have just been planted in a space no larger than a tennis court.
But what has been created is far more than a small woodland.
In collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), NiCE, Route 101 and Earthwatch Europe, Carbon Heroes supported the creation of a Tiny Forest at Oasis Academy Connaught School in Filwood — transforming an underutilised urban space into a long-term social value asset for the community .
This project represents something we strongly believe at Carbon Heroes:
Urban nature is not decorative.
It is infrastructure.
A forest designed for community impact
The Bristol Tiny Forest consists of approximately 600 native trees across 17 species, planted using Earthwatch’s proven dense woodland methodology . This approach accelerates growth, biodiversity and ecosystem benefits, creating a fast-establishing pocket of woodland in the heart of a neighbourhood with limited access to high-quality green space.
Over its first two years, the project is expected to:
Generate more than 200 volunteer hours
Engage at least 230 children and community members
Deliver measurable improvements in biodiversity, carbon storage and air quality improvements
But the impact goes beyond metrics.
By bringing trees, shade and nature directly into a school setting, the Tiny Forest creates a living outdoor classroom. It supports STEM learning, environmental literacy and green skills development. It provides pupils, families and residents with accessible green space that improves physical and mental wellbeing.
Green spaces are critical to residents’ physical and mental health — and this forest will be planted, monitored and enjoyed by the community for decades to come .
This is place-based environmental investment where it matters most.
From planting day to measurable social value
At Carbon Heroes, our role extends beyond enabling tree sponsorship.
We ensure that environmental initiatives are structured and measured in alignment with the UK Government’s Social Value Model under PPN 002.
As our CEO, Violette Castagné, explains:
“Urban trees and Tiny Forests are some of the most powerful ways to deliver measurable social value where people live and work… Through our data-driven platform, we can quantify the environmental and health benefits of this forest in line with PPN 002 and the Government’s Social Value Model.”
This distinction matters.
Public sector suppliers are increasingly required to demonstrate tangible, defensible environmental and community outcomes. Nature-based solutions are often delivered as standalone CSR activities — well-intentioned, but poorly evidenced.
This project demonstrates a different model.
By combining:
Corporate leadership and investment (AWS)
Local commitment and long-term involvement (NiCE and Route 101)
Scientific methodology and citizen science (Earthwatch)
Structured social value quantification (Carbon Heroes)
…a small plot of land becomes a measurable, policy-aligned social value asset.
