About Eden-Rose Coppice Sudbury
Founded in 2007 Eden-Rose Coppice in central Sudbury is the first of the charity’s re-claimed woodland settings.
The location of the Coppice was originally an industrial site but approximately 60 years ago it was planted with commercial non-native Poplar trees. The trees were abandoned leaving 47 tall and dangerous Poplars; it was a derelict, litter strewn and unsafe space.
In acquiring this land, the Trust aimed to provide a tranquil, safe and restorative natural environment for people with cancer and their families to connect with nature. Volunteers and friends of Eden-Rose tirelessly cleared hundreds of metres of barbed wire and concrete, created a large pond and observation bridge, accessible pathways and a refreshment area. Many people involved in this huge transformation were living with cancer and designed the composting toilet, built benches, planted trees and wildflowers and fundraised.
Today our mission has expanded – our 3.5 acre woodland is now an oasis for wildlife, comprises a diverse mix of native trees , complemented by wildflowers together with wetland areas. We promote nature immersion by providing outdoor volunteering sessions twice weekly throughout the year, liaising with local environmental educational groups to offer open days, hosting a Sudbury Special Needs School for their Forest School Sessions and welcoming community visits. To this day we offer private visits for people and families experiencing tough times, quite often as a result of cancer, but also for those dealing with the many challenges life can bring, including struggling with mental health.
Nothing has demonstrated our need for connection with nature more than the recent COVID 19 Pandemic. The Coppice Garden greenhouse was erected during these years. Built on such a powerful and collective foundation Eden Rose Coppice continues to nurture nature and provides important physical, social and psychological benefits for people. As one of our volunteers describes her time at the Coppice, “a nature plug in.”
Eden-Rose Coppice Sudbury – Activities
Outdoor Volunteering, Sessions, twice weekly throughout the year
Tasks
Coppicing, creating dead hedges, hedge and tree planting prep, and planting, creating insect habitats, wild flower propagation and planting, small ponds and maintaining large pond, garden and greenhouse veg growing, watering in dry seasons, maintaining fencing, pathways, benches and footbridges, assisting with events.
Maintaining wetland areas using scythes and a scythe cutter, creating Reptile hibernacula
2023 Volunteer led fruit tree orchard planting and continuing care
Annual Fruit Tree Wassail – Volunteer led – instigated in 2024
Fire cooking using foraged ingredients – and bacon butties!
Working with local groups and community
Hillside Special School, Sudbury since 2008
Mellish House Care Home, Sudbury 2017-2021/22
Gainsborough’s House Museum Art Club 2015-2025 (Adults with learning difficulties)
Dedham Vale National Landscape & Stour Valley Team/Suffolk Tree Warden Network & others
Providing Eden-Rose Coppice with native Black Poplar Tree Saplings from cuttings from clone bank – grown locally
Wild in the Stour Valley Event – in conjunction with Stour Valley Educational Network – Coppice Open Days 2023/’24 and 2025
Sudbury Common Lands Charity – Coppice is adjacent to Sudbury Common Lands
Sudbury Canoe Club – River Stour Trust
Wonderful green space used to support people and families experiencing tough times
Private visits to the woodland and private tree planting (Memory trees)
If you can help in any way at all, please get in touch on 0800 772 3755.
Say Hi…
At Eden-Rose Coppice Trust we really like to “talk” regardless of the type of question you may have.
So whatever your enquiry might be please do get in touch today, we’re a friendly old bunch so don’t you be shy!
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