BDAS How to create a forest (x Festival of Nature)

Trees are transformational, and our region has a bold mission ahead: to create one of England’s new national forests. Can it be done, and what will the benefits be for communities, wildlife and businesses?

John Everitt (CEO, The National Forest) will open by sharing the nation’s ambitions for transforming landscapes. He will be followed by Jamie Audsley (Director, Western Forest) and Leah McNally (CEO, Avon Wildlife Trust) who will unveil plans for the region before handing over to Chiara Lodi (Research Manager, Black Southwest Network) to share early findings from Western Forest research exploring how we ensure forest creation is inclusive.

This event will be chaired by Darren Reynolds, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at UWE Bristol, with a welcome from Savita Willmott, Director of the Festival of Nature.

This event is part of The Festival of Nature.

Timings

18:00 Arrival & registration in Lantern Hall.

18:30 Event starts in Lantern Hall/livestream begins.

19:30 Q&A.

19:45 Event ends/livestream ends.

19:45-21:00 Networking and drinks

The Bristol Distinguished Address Series (BDAS) is brought to you by UWE Bristol, and provides an opportunity to hear unique perspectives and insights from change makers, activists, entrepreneurs, and people who have achieved amazing things in Bristol and beyond.

About John

John Everitt OBE – National Forest Chief Executive

John is an environmental professional with more than 30 years’ experience in the sector, including senior executive and non-executive roles across public, charitable and commercial bodies. He joined the National Forest in 2015, following previous roles as Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Director of Conservation for The Wildlife Trusts nationally. With a degree in zoology and masters in conservation biology, he has held senior positions on national forums, including with National Lottery Heritage Fund and Wildlife & Countryside Link. John is currently Chair of the Forestry Commission’s Forestry & Woodland Advisory Committee for the East Midlands, a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, and was awarded an OBE for services to conservation in 2024.

About Leah

Leah McNally, Chief Executive, Avon Wildlife Trust Leah McNally | LinkedIn

Leah joined Avon Wildlife Trust as Chief Executive in March 2025 from London Wildlife Trust, where she held a wide range of Director level roles. At Avon Wildlife Trust, Leah is focusing on refreshing and implementing strategy and building collaboration across sectors. Leah holds a non-executive Director role with Black Girls Hike and is a Trustee of Manchester Jewish Museum and the Natural History Consortium. Leah brings extensive strategic leadership experience from several pioneering projects, including the redevelopment of an iconic visitor and learning centre at Camley Street Natural Park - a nature reserve in Kings Cross, London and the operational development of visitor destination nature reserves including commercial growth. Leah initiated and oversaw sector-leading ‘Keeping it Wild,’ an award-winning youth programme. Over time Leah led the transformation of London Wildlife Trust in terms of organisational change around Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and communications, which was key to the success of the organisation. Keeping it Wild took a focus on paid traineeships (for young people currently under-represented in the sector) and developed youth governance through set up of a Youth Board and associated mentoring scheme. Leah has also worked in partnership with a variety of landowners and stakeholders on a Great North Wood living landscape programme, working with landowners and stakeholders across five boroughs in South London.

About Jamie

Jamie is the director of the western forest England's first new national forest in over 30 years. In its first five years, Western Forest aims to create at least 2,500 hectares of woodland and other tree habitats, boosting the economy, supporting nature recovery and bringing trees closer to where people live

Jamie joined Western Forest from Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, where, as chief executive he led landscape-scale nature and climate recovery programmes across over 15,000 hectares, growing income, building partnerships and creating investible nature projects, to drive long-term environmental and social impact.

Growing up in both the countryside and the city, Jamie has long been motivated by environmental and social justice and by challenging the status quo. He began his career in youth work, teaching, and community organising, before working at Pearson, the world’s largest education organisation. From 2014 to 2022, he also served as a Councillor in Croydon.

More recently, Jamie held senior leadership roles as Head of Education and Organising at ShareAction, Head of Future Nature at the RSPB, and CEO of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust. He now brings together this breadth of experience across education, organising, governance, and environmental leadership to deliver meaningful results for people and nature through the creation of the Western Forest, a new National Forest.

You can attend this event in person or watch online via live-stream.

Attending in-person: Bristol Beacon, Bristol. Further information on how to find us will be emailed to you a few days before the event.

Attending online: The livestream link will be emailed to you a few days before the event.

UWE Bristol welcomes all abilities/disabilities, ages, ethnicities, and genders to our events. If you have any questions, concerns or additional requirements then please let us know, by contacting [email protected], so that we can make your time at this event as comfortable as possible.

Disabled parking: No

Step-free access: Yes

Accessible toilets: Yes

Assisted Listening: Yes

Guide/assistance dog-friendly: Yes

Quiet spaces available: Yes

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