Just over a decade ago Falmouth businessman Paul Rutter was lying unconscious on the pavement after becoming the victim of a serious assault.

Now, 13 years on, he is living proof that “a negative action can lead to a positive reaction” after purchasing just under three acres of woodland to turn into a sanctuary for other victims of trauma.

Paul, together with his wife Sarah, are now the owners of Kensey Woodland in east Cornwall, where they will be setting up a sanctuary for trauma and mental health support.

This will include open air workshops featuring activities such as bushcraft and small woodworking projects, as well as strength and conditioning, yoga and breath work, all in the calming environment of the woodland.

In August, the couple launched a Go Fund Me page to help fund the purchase of the woodland, and donations can still be left at www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-create-a-woodland-sanctuary-for-mental-health towards its ongoing development into a sanctuary.

Paul is given the 'key to the woodland' from woodland manager Stuart Brooking (Image: Rutter family) Paul and Sarah said: “We would like to say a big thank you to everyone that donated and continues to support us through our GoFundMe Page.

“We are also really grateful that Simon Trahair-Davies and Farida Rashwan of Stephens-Scown in Truro represented us by covering all our legal fees under a pro bono agreement from their charity department. This was so generous of them as we then only had to cover the search fee costs so a big thank you to them too.

“The seller, woodland.co.uk have also been so supportive, especially their woodland manager Stuart Brooking, who has been brilliant helping us through the process.”

They added that with the purchase completed “now the hard work really starts.”

They have been given 600 native trees for the woodland sanctuary from the Devon Wildlife Trust,as part of their Upstream Thinking Project, which the couple will be receiving and planting in January.

In the meantime, they are regularly at the woodland, busy maintaining the woods, building a small nature pond and starting to design two small decking areas where the open air workshops will take place.

Sarah with woodland manager Stuart Brooking (Image: Rutter family) “We want to be able to share our woodland with everyone, so we are currently looking at woodland friendly pathways that are accessible for anyone in a wheelchair or with mobility difficulties but still being sympathetic to nature and our woodland’s surroundings.

“We want our woodland sanctuary to be somewhere where you have space to breathe and relax in nature,” they said.

The sanctuary’s motto will be “Let our trees take the load” – with the couple explaining: “We can sometimes carry far too much weight on our shoulders, which takes many different forms in our lives and affects us all in so many different ways.

“Hopefully coming to our woodland can give just a little respite and solace to everyone that visits.”

They have started an Instagram page at @kensey_woodland where people can follow their journey, with regular progress updates.

Kensey Woodland is to become a sanctuary to support victims of trauma (Image: Rutter family) “We have lots to do but hopefully in the not too distant future we will be open and ready to welcome you to Kensey Woodland Sanctuary,” they added.

Paul, who at the time of his injuries ran a bespoke furniture and joinery company, was assaulted in Killigrew Street, Falmouth in the early hours of September 25, 2011.

He was left needing facial reconstruction, with doctors at the Royal Cornwall Hospital having to use titanium plates and screws to rebuild his cheekbones and nose.

After taking time to heal, both physically and mentally, Paul now hopes to use his experiences and recovery to support others who have been subject to trauma of all types.