Wilder Woods

Over 100 people of varying ages came to our sunny Woodland Open Day in West Charlton. Some were visiting forest school practitioners but most were local people.
We had plenty of help all day. Bryn, Henry, Ed, Mark, Andrew, Dec, Brendan, Sue, Corrina and Neill got the fires going, put up signs and trails, did last minute path clearing. Tom and Martyn set up the spring pole lathe and shave horses. Lynda and Peel set up the bottom camp with spinning wheels and Peel’s shave horse. Many brought delicious cakes. Jane, Sally and Maggie worked tirelessly serving teas and cakes. Becky brought marshmallows (very popular). 42 children went around the woodland trail and claimed stickers for their efforts. The swing was in constant use.
We were really impressed at the number of people who walked and cycled. There were 26 bikes and a disabled buggy parked among the trees at one point.
It was an opportunity for villagers to see the project and have a go on the spring pole lathe and shave horse and Lyndas’ spinning wheels. It was wonderful to feel the high level of local support for our planning application for mixed forestry/ educational use which the wood needs to survive.

It will be our third attempt this year to secure correct permissions. The application includes small scale/ sympathetic parking commensurate with low level use (groups mostly come by single mini bus) as Highways/Planning won’t accept use of the parish car park.

If our application is successful we can restore visits to pre-school/ school/ continue our small group forest education work alongside our restoration of the plantation. Although we didn’t want to provide parking, it will make it easier for those with limited mobility to get involved.

£60 was donated for bulbs and trees from teas. Thank you to everyone who helped, or came along and supported us, making yesterday such a wonderful event.
P.S. Many many thanks to Ingrid Crawford for her superb photos which are now up in the Hallr Wood gallery. There are more on our facebook page.