What We Gain from Giving: the Benefits of Mutualism

Mushrooms and Tree Roots, Olympic National Forest

Listen to this article: The Limits of an Individualist Worldview Beneath the forest floor there is a complex network of life – fungal threads that weave through the soil and into plant roots, creating a web of connections between organisms. This allows water, nutrients, and chemical messages to flow and resources to be shared, a […]

Plant a Tree, Grow a Story: The Wood Wide Web of Literature

An open book on grass with a leaf as a bookmark

Listen to this article: Even before we discovered that trees communicate through underground fungal and root networks (the so-called ‘wood wide web’), authors were writing about trees not merely as an aesthetic choice, but as the centre of many canonical narratives. They offer shelter, provide comfort, and even become conduits for magic – think of […]

The Long-Term Roots of Change: Reflecting on a Year of Growth

Joy planting a sapling on her shamba

Listen to this article: As I look back on the past twelve months, I realise how much can happen in a year. Some moments were filled with excitement and achievement, while others brought uncertainty, challenges, and deep reflection. Growth, I have learned, is rarely straightforward. It unfolds quietly through everyday experiences, small decisions, and the […]

Every Drop Counts: Water Stewardship in Our Kenyan Nursery

A recycled water bottle drip feeding a plant

Listen to this article: Water has always been precious in the areas of Kenya where Word Forest works. This year, it has become critical. Across Coast Province, prolonged drought conditions are placing immense strain on communities, ecosystems and food systems. Rainfall has been erratic and insufficient, temperatures are high, and surface water sources are under […]

Britain’s First “Climate Action” Rose Launched by Historic Grower Harkness

Word Forest Fellowship Rose

Listen to this article: Harkness Rose partners with frontline reforestation charity in move that puts £2.50 from every bloom directly into tropical tree planting Sidmouth, February 26th, 2026: Harkness Roses, the 140-year-old British rose breeder, has launched what it’s calling “the first rose bred with climate action at its heart” – a vibrant orange floribunda […]

How Our Shade Net Sapling Nursery Grows Resilience in Kenya

Two of our PTC workers building our shade net nursery

Listen to this article: At Word Forest’s Permaculture Teaching Centre (PTC) in rural Kenya, we’ve invested in infrastructure that makes a direct difference to the success of our reforestation work: a shade net sapling nursery that gives young trees the best possible start in life. Thanks to generous support from UK donors, our nursery now […]

Word Forest is now on Mastodon

A group of Kenyan farmers in the Word Forest shade net nursery

Listen to this article: Mastodon is a decentralised social network built around community, meaningful conversation and chronological feeds rather than algorithms. There are no adverts and no data-driven news feeds deciding what people see. Instead, it is shaped by people, shared values and genuine dialogue. That matters to us. As an international charity supporting communities […]

Beehive Fences in Kajiado: Nature’s Shield Against Elephants

Save the elephants beehive fence

Listen to this article: Kajiado County, much like other parts of the Tsavo ecosystem in southern Kenya, suffers frequent human-elephant conflict, particularly during the dry months or following poor harvests. Communities bordering wildlife corridors have seen waves of crop destruction, threatening both livelihoods and safety. In response, beehive fences—an ingenious, nature-based deterrent—are emerging as a […]

Green Friday: Growing Goodness Together

Black (crossed out) Green Friday on a leaf background

Listen to this article: As November turns to December, shop windows fill with bright offers and festive buzz fills the air. But amid the excitement of the season, there’s another way to celebrate – one that gives back to the planet and helps communities grow stronger. Welcome to Green Friday: a day to nurture life, […]