Our History.
The Trust was formed in 2009, with the encouragement of the County and District Councils, to conserve any part of the land and buildings in and around the Forest of Dean of particular beauty or architectural interest, if necessary by taking on the ownership.
In January 2012, the Trust acquired its first site when the partially conserved Whitecliff Ironworks near Coleford was donated to it. The site is a Scheduled Monument and was classed by English Heritage as ‘at Risk Category High’.
By 2014, the Trust owned two further Scheduled Monuments: the Church of St James at Lancaut (near Tidenham) and Gunns Mill Furnace (near Flaxley).
The Trust has assisted the Forestry Commission with repair work and interpretation at the Darkhill iron and steel works site on Gorsty Knoll. Trustees have also given time and expertise to the development stage of the Foresters Forest HLF Landscape Partnership Project.
The Trust’s work has been assisted through much appreciated advice, donations and grants from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Historic England, the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust, the Forest of Dean District Council’s Local Action Programme, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Wye Valley AONB and donations from individuals.
The Trust welcomes enquiries from anyone interested in volunteering or becoming a Trustee to help with our work. This may involve maintenance tasks on our historic buildings, fund raising , running this website, helping at open days and promoting our activities
