(Apologies to those who have tried to access our website over the last couple of weeks. It has been down for essential maintenance.)
Champion for woodlands
Studies show that managed woodlands (those that are not allowed to decay) are better for wildlife and biodiversity, as well as for the timber and woodland products they 'grow'. We aim to help anyone looking to manage woods with advice and networking to guarantee the sustainable future of Britain's rich tapestry of woodlands and the valuable role they play in our economic, social and environmental landscape.
The Small Woods Association supports the sustainable management of woodlands and the production and marketing of wood products for local markets. We provide services to woodland owners, practitioners and producers, and we aim to signpost anyone interested in local woods to local groups who encourage access, make products, and provide services or training. We provide input to policy forums, and lobby at all levels to promote the wellbeing of small woodlands and all those who own, manage or work in them.
Services include a quarterly magazine for owners and those with a general interest in making better use of UK woods, and a twice yearly practitioners magazine for those with a more professional interest.
We offer an enquiries service for those who need help or local contacts, and we arrange training, meetings, local networks seminars and woodland visits for members.
We deliver many services through our woodland projects, including the Woodland Initiatives Network, the National Coppice Restoration Project, Heartwoods, Coed Lleol, Herefordshire Sustain, forest schools, volunteering and social forestry projects in Hereford, Shropshire and Telford.
Our four other web sites give more details of these services:
www.greenwoodcentre.org.uk, for those looking for activities near our Telford HQ and woodland courses
www.coppice-products.co.uk , where you can find woodland products, services and training almost anywhere in the UK (free placements for practitioners members). This is the main site for National Bean Pole Week, and you can find bean poles for sale, events and woodland activities near you during April and May.
www.heartwoods.co.uk offers practitioners in the West Midlands a chance to list their products and services
www.coedlleol.org.uk, for our Wales wide woodland project,
1988-2009: 21 years of supporting small woodland owners, managers and workers