The Forest of Imagination has won a national Inspire Future Generations Award for Strategic Vision for its work putting children and young people at the heart of decisions about the places where they live, learn and play.
The contemporary arts and architecture project, based in Bath, was recognised by the Thornton Education Trust for its 2025 programme, Imagining the Future of the Forgotten Land.
Judges praised the project’s long-term and values-driven approach to embedding young people’s voices in culture, education and the built environment, with the potential to influence policy and future planning.
Forest of Imagination works with families, schools, artists, designers, educators and community partners to create accessible, nature-inspired experiences that encourage imagination, play and environmental awareness.
Its work is rooted in the belief that access to green spaces, creativity and culture should be a right for all children and young people, and that they should be empowered as co-creators of fairer and greener futures.
In 2025, the team co-designed the pop-up event Imagining the Future of the Forgotten Land as a proof of concept for a permanent art and nature park at Entry Hill in Bath.
The ten-day event was delivered in close partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council and showed how collaboration between the creative sector and local government can help tackle climate, nature, wellbeing and inclusion together.
The programme reached a wide and diverse audience, including families and young people who may not normally have access to arts, cultural or environmental activities.
Forest of Imagination hopes the award will strengthen future work with the Council and community partners, supporting a shared commitment to protecting and re-imagining access to green landscapes.
The Inspire Future Generations Awards celebrate projects in the built environment sector that centre children’s and young people’s voices.
Award-winning initiatives are shared internationally through the Thornton Education Trust’s Resource Bank and Empowering Environment Report.
Dr Penny Hay, co-founder of Forest of Imagination and Professor of Imagination at Bath Spa University, said, “This recognition affirms our belief in imagination as a powerful force for change and transformation.
“When children and young people, especially those whose voices are too often unheard, are invited to imagine alongside artists, designers and civic leaders, we create environments that are more inclusive, more resilient and more connected to nature. We are proud to work with our local Council and creative partners and look forward to continuing this collaboration for the benefit of the whole community.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said the project showed the impact of putting children and young people at the heart of decisions about where they live, learn and play.
