The Long-Term Roots of Change: Reflecting on a Year of Growth
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
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 […]
How Our Shade Net Sapling Nursery Grows Resilience in Kenya
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
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
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
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, […]
Renewed Spaces, Renewed Learning
Listen to this article: Back in 2015, just before Word Forest’s creation, the co-founders, Simon and Tracey West raised funds to build their first classroom at Kundeni Primary School. The school had only one decent classroom at the time, along with a handful of other ramshackle buildings dotted around the grounds, most of which were […]
Tree Certificates Are Back
Listen to this article: Every tree begins as a small seed, but together, those seeds grow into something mighty: forests that clean the air, shelter wildlife, and provide communities with food, shade, and resilience. Planting a tree is more than an environmental action. It’s a declaration of hope, a promise for the future, and a […]
Beyond Buzzwords: A Straight-Talking Guide to Carbon Drawdown That Cuts Through the Greenwash
Listen to this article: From direct air capture to farming smarter and reforesting the tropics, carbon drawdown is no longer the stuff of academic journals or green tech expos, it’s the frontline of our collective climate response. But which solutions are actually viable and which are energy-intensive distractions dressed up in eco-hype? A Comprehensive Guide […]