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What began in 2019 as a simple idea between outdoor footwear brand Cotswold Shoes and the National Forest has grown into a six-year partnership rooted in shared values and a love of the outdoors. Both organisations believe that spending time outside lifts our spirits, that restoring nature strengthens communities, and that businesses can leave a lasting positive legacy.
10 Nov 2025
Cotswold Shoes is proudly designed and developed in the UK by Gardiner Bros, a family-run business based in Gloucestershire, in the heart of the Cotswolds. Inspired by the countryside on its doorstep, the brand creates outdoor footwear that helps people enjoy the landscapes they love - from wellingtons and hiking boots to timeless country styles.
From the beginning, the team behind Cotswold Shoes wanted to support something real and lasting: a UK-based initiative that reflected their countryside values and made a tangible difference. They found that in the National Forest - a 200-square-mile living landscape across Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire, where trees, wildlife and people grow together.
“When we first partnered with the National Forest six years ago, our aim was to make a meaningful contribution to our local environment and communities,” said Ben Gardiner, Director at Gardiner Bros. “With Cotswold Shoes, our vision has always been to inspire people to explore the outdoors - providing comfortable footwear while positively impacting the planet.”
Over six years, Cotswold Shoes has donated more than £100,000, helping the Forest achieve milestones that once felt impossible. When the National Forest began in the early 1990s, only six per cent of the area was wooded. Today, a full quarter of the landscape is covered by trees, with nearly ten million planted so far. Former farmland and industrial sites have become thriving woodlands and wild habitats, open for everyone to explore.
More than 320 kilometres of walking trails, including the 75-mile National Forest Way, now wind through the landscape, connecting people and places. Seven in ten households live within walking distance of accessible green space, a remarkable shift from just a generation ago.
The impact has reached local schools too, where outdoor learning is now part of daily life for 90 per cent of primary pupils. Wildlife that had long disappeared is returning, including the purple emperor butterfly and dormice reintroduced to Derbyshire and Leicestershire after more than a century away.
The partnership goes beyond funding. The Cotswold Shoes team regularly joins community events such as the National Forest Trek and Timber Festival, where they launched Timber by Foot to encourage visitors to explore on foot. Their involvement - from supporting walkers to celebrating key events like Trees of Life and the Chelsea Flower Show - has helped more people connect with nature and the Forest community.
“Cotswold Shoes has been a true partner in every sense,” said Carolyn Sankey, Director of Development. “Their commitment has helped us expand access to woodlands, create new habitats, and inspire thousands to enjoy the outdoors.”
Six years in, the partnership is strong, the impact is clear, and the future is full of possibility. Together, Cotswold Shoes and the National Forest are walking hand in hand - planting trees, transforming landscapes, and creating a living legacy for generations to come.
