Our Story
Rooted in responsibility.
Evara Tree was founded on a simple conviction: that the trees standing in our landscapes today deserve the same care and attention as the people who live alongside them.
How Evara Tree began
Evara Tree grew out of a series of local campaigns in the early 2010s, when communities across the UK found themselves fighting — often alone — to protect trees that had stood for centuries. The campaigns were successful, but the experience revealed something troubling: there was no national body dedicated solely to the preservation of trees and woodland outside of designated nature reserves.
We were founded to fill that gap. Starting with a small team of conservationists, lawyers and community organisers, Evara Tree built a model that combined legal expertise with grassroots advocacy. Over the years, that model has grown into three distinct programmes — Conservation, Preservation and Protection — each addressing a different dimension of the challenge.
Today, Evara Tree works across all four nations of the United Kingdom, supporting communities, advising local authorities and investing in the science that helps us understand what our forests need to survive.
What we stand for
Permanence
We believe that the loss of an ancient tree or a native woodland is irreversible. Our work is guided by the principle that what stands today should still be standing tomorrow.
Community
Trees belong to the places and people around them. We work with communities rather than for them, recognising that local knowledge is irreplaceable.
Evidence
Good conservation is grounded in science. We invest in research, monitor outcomes and change our approach when the evidence demands it.
Accountability
As a charity, we are accountable to our supporters, our partners and the landscapes we serve. We publish our accounts, our outcomes and our failures.
The people behind the work
Evara Tree is led by a small permanent team supported by a network of regional advisors, legal volunteers and scientific partners across the UK.
Dr Miriam Ashford
Executive Director
Miriam has worked in woodland conservation for over twenty years. She joined Evara Tree as a founding trustee and became Executive Director in 2017.
Callum Rees
Head of Conservation
Callum leads our field programmes across Wales and England, with a particular focus on ancient woodland restoration and soil health.
Priya Nair
Head of Legal & Policy
Priya manages our legal casework and policy advocacy, working with planning authorities and government bodies across all four nations.
Fiona MacLeod
Scotland & Northern Ireland Director
Fiona oversees our work north of the border and in Northern Ireland, building partnerships with local conservation organisations and landowners.
Stand with us.
Evara Tree depends on people who believe that trees deserve defenders. Whether you give your time, your expertise or your support, there is a place for you in this work.