TWO Worcester mums who transformed a patch of wilderness into a forest retreat, said the pandemic inspired them to use the woodland as a way to reach out to"disconnected" members of the community.

Helen Fairest and Sam Owens, from Worcester, are aiming to alleviate loneliness and isolation in their community by providing a "vital space" for people of all ages to connect with each other and nature.

The pair co-founded Wild and Rooted CIC in 2016, which runs the Bramblewood Project - a woodland space at Lansdowne Crescent Allotment, which offers outdoor activities for children and adults.

The 46-year-olds were inspired to reach out to locals after realising the "calm" the project brought them during manic of the first lockdown.

Mrs Fairest said: "During lockdown, Sam and I visited Bramblewood most days, whatever the weather. Regardless of our mood when we arrived, we left feeling happy and calm each time.

The mums took part in an online "camp" with a nature charity, Eden Project, in March, which motivated them to spread their message.

She said: "After we attended camp, we decided we wanted to capitalise on that feeling and offer it to even more people who might be lonely or disconnected from the wonders of nature in our community."

The project began pre-pandemic, when Forest School teacher, Helen, said she noticed that opportunities for children to connect with nature were increasingly limited. She then joined forces with Sam, a parent at her son’s school, and took on a lease for a disused patch of woodland close to Worcester city centre in 2018.

She said: "Bramblewood has undoubtedly helped people to get through the last 18 months. For some of our volunteers and visitors, it was the only place where they could see other people, so it became a really important space. The wood is so close to the city centre but you can hear the birds, the crackle of the fire and the rustle of the leaves and it instantly cocoons you."

At the height of the pandemic, the project adapted to become an even more crucial space for the pair and locals, who were able to enjoy a change of scenery and time in a green space without leaving the city.

She added: "Now that restrictions have lifted, we’re looking forward to doing more for the community. We want to support adult wellbeing and are already working with our local NHS Trust’s mental health teams to offer sessions to people recovering from mental ill health."