Telford Woods is social enterprise in England formed in partnership with Telford and Wrekin Council and Small Woods. It engages the community in the sustainable management of local woodlands, the use of local forestry products, and development of woodland spaces for education and improved physical health and wellbeing.
Activities include weekly community conservation volunteer sessions, woodland management training (Boost for Biodiversity programme funded by Seven Trent), work with a local special school to develop an accessible woodland learning area and Council holiday club family woodcraft activities.
Telford Woods works with a wide range of partners, including Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Telford Green Spaces Partnership, as well as corporate volunteers. You can find the Telford Woods project on Facebook.
February 2021 Update:
What we have been doing - recently we have been undertaking regular practical conservation work with volunteers from the local community, community organisations and corporate organisations. This work has helped restore hazel coppice at Lime Kiln wood and willow 'withy beds' at the Town Park, for example. These woodlands now sustainably produce material that can be used for community craft projects, such as in the activities for the holiday activity clubs we work with and as the basis for other 'Social Enterprise' activity.
What’s coming next - despite the pandemic having slowed progress we have a number of exciting new projects in the pipeline that will enable us to continue and build upon the activity we piloted that should result in significant improvements to our local woodland areas, including the development of a community tree nursery nearby. Watch this space!
The challenges we have - continuing our work with only very limited opportunities for volunteers to be involved has made the past year feel like hard work! We have been able to move our holiday club activities to remote delivery but would still prefer to be working with families directly. We are also looking forward to volunteers being able to be safely involved in our work again as they make a huge contribution and the opportunity for vulnerable individuals in particular to participate in such activity is needed now more than ever, as is increased care for our local green spaces which have supported the health and wellbeing of our communities during recent lockdown periods.
Telford Woods updates can be found here (PDF):
Tristan Haynes
Telford Woods Co-ordinator (Part-Time)
Small Woods
[email protected]
01952 432769
www.facebook.com/telfordwoodforgood
