Tree Spirit grew out of a petition to save some old oaks in the Wyre Forest. The petition received local media coverage and the support of the local naturalist Norman Hickin and the well-known conservationist David Bellamy.

We decided that we should take more positive steps and thus a small group of tree enthusiasts set up Tree Spirit, with the aims of encouraging tree planting, and raising public awareness of the importance of trees.

Our first gathering was in a field at Hawkbatch Farm, Bewdley close to a grand old oak. Here we made new friends and Tree Spirit set off on it’s journey.

Our first tree planting was at Hawkbatch but we soon followed that up with planting both locally and further afield.
 
We decided to become a charity and gained Charity status (801511) in 1989.

Tree Spirit also started a small tree nursery where we grew mainly oaks, which we gave away to projects across the country. Each year for many years we rescued many hundreds of unsold trees from a large local nursery, temporarily heeled them in and then - passed them on, for a small donation, to  projects across the country. 

In 1994  we made our first purchase of 24 acres of land  - Maes Y Mynach near Oswestry. This previously had been a sitka spruce plantation which    had been clearfelled. With our many volunteers, we subsequently planted it up with mainly mixed broadleaf trees. It was here that we built a magnificent timber round house using some of the sitka timber that had been left.


Many willing hands built this great structure which became a focal point, shelter from the elements and a grand place for evening meals and socialising around the fire pit.

Alas, whilst we were at Glastonbury Festival with the Tree Spirit stall of merchandise and information, we received a call to say that vandals had burned the round house down. It was a great loss. However, we continued taking the important message about the need for trees and woodlands to many events over the years. The trees of Maes Y Mynach continue to thrive.

We were able to purchase a second piece of land Coed Salusbury, near Abergele, North Wales. Again this had been a conifer plantation and we replanted it with mixed broad-leaf trees.

Following on from this a member kindly purchased Bryn Kendrick, near Abergele for Tree Spirit. This is a 14 acre site which we replanted with mixed broadleaf species.

The aim in all three sites was to create a predominantly mixed species woodland where maintenance is low key, where nature could flourish and where people could go to enjoy the environment.

In 2023, in conjunction with the Wyre Forest Green Alliance, Tree Spirit has re-established a small nursery, growing trees from seeds for future planting projects.