Small Woods

Some members and supporters may know that our Heritage Craft team have been working hard over the last 12 months on their biggest restoration project yet. The re-creation of the biggest pair of railway gates in the country; at 38ft a piece. Today was a massive day as they were lifted back into place.
And they look spectacular.
The work has been led by Neill Mapes, Heritage Craft Manager, at Small Woods, ably assisted by trainee, Teresa Bailey and a small army of amazing volu...nteers. The whole project has been conceived and supported from start to finish by the Engineering team at #TelfordandWrekinCouncil.
Neill researched the gates and his design has got as close to the original as we can with currently available timber. Thank you to #WoodlandHeritage for supplying the timber. He has designed unique scarf joints that drew on a range of sources and has come up with a final result that is just spectacular.
The community of Jackfield, where the gates reside has a lot of love for these gates. Hopefully they will be a feature of the community for many years to come.
Thank you to all involved, it has been an amazing team effort.
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There are still available places on our event coming up this weekend, open to both members and non-members. Book your place now for a wonderful opportunity to get an insight into the woods in Spring from Brett Westwood 🌳
'May is a superb time to visit Wyre Forest when the spring birdsong peaks and Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Redstart sing along Dowles brook Valley. Tree Pipits will be singing too and Dippers and Grey Wagtails will be on the brook. Wyre is rich in insec...ts and Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies, the focus of recent conservation efforts , are at their best in May.'
There will be a charge of £10/per head for this event. Book by e-mailing Nadia at communications@smallwoods.org.uk or call 01952432769
http://smallwoods.org.uk/…/member-event -the-wyre-forest-in…/
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Some shocking research on the costs of Ash Dieback has been publicised, we can only hope that this inspires action to mitigate these effects. Dramatically increasing tree planting rates and introducing much tighter biosecurity controls would be a good start...
'The predicted costs arise from clearing up dead and dying trees and in lost benefits provided by trees, e.g. water and air purification and carbon sequestration. The loss of these services is expected to be the biggest cost to society, while millions of ash trees also line Britain’s roads and urban areas, and clearing up dangerous trees will cost billions of pounds.'
http://smallwoods.org.uk/…/ash-dieback- is-predicted-to-cos…/

Have you ever dreamt of learning to make your very own unique garden gate? Well now is your chance! Design and build a beautiful garden cleft gate using either oak, chestnut or ash you will use traditional tools and techniques to create a gate to be proud of!
http://smallwoods.org.uk/course/cleft-gat e/

Our wonderful apprentice Suz Williams is putting on a film night in Himbleton, Worcestershire. Mr Osbourne's family managed this local coppice for 7 generations and in this inspiring documentary called 'Light if Life' you learn about the benefits of coppicing and the importance of light management. Come along and meet local coppice workers who are keeping the tradition going!

The Smallwoods Association and The Woodland Trust have joined forces to deliver an exciting and useful free demonstration event at the Falkland Centre for Stewardship in Fife to discuss the value of our hardwoods, woodland restoration in practice in Scotland, and to see a wide range of low impact solutions for management, including an iron horse and a small harvester. We will then look at ways of adding value by processing the timber on site using a wood mizer and woodfuel p...rocessor. The event is free of charge, with refreshments and lunch provided. Places are limited so booking is essential.
Who would find these events useful?
They will be particularly relevant to owners who would like to manage their own woodlands and forestry businesses, involved in harvesting and extracting in smaller and potentially more sensitive woods.
For more information or to book a place please email Nadia at communications@smallwoods.org.uk or call 01952 432769.
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We have managed to persuade Brett Westwood to once again take us on a walk in the Wyre Forest. Last September members were treated with an amazing insight to the long standing ecological study of the forest.
Why not book a place and come along this spring, May is a superb time to visit Wyre Forest when the spring birdsong peaks and Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Redstart sing along Dowles brook Valley. Tree Pipits will be singing too and Dippers and Grey Wagtails will be ...on the brook. Wyre is rich in insects and Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies, the focus of recent conservation efforts , are at their best in May. We should also be able to view special plants such as the Narrow-leaved Helleborine orchid , Lily-of-the Valley and Mountain Melick grass.
If you are interested please email Nadia at communications@smallwoods.org.uk or call 01952 432769.
Please note there will be a charge of £10/head for this event.
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Confor are tackling some very important issues in their campaign 'Think global, plant local'.
“Climate change is the biggest challenge for us all and politicians must raise their game - not set a low bar and then fail to get over it,” said Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive of Confor. “Tree planting rates in England and Wales are currently woeful but with political will, we can turn that around and ‘Think Global, Plant Local’ to help tackle the appalling impact of climate change....
“We are working closely with the UK Government to push up planting rates, but I hope they will listen to Sir David Attenborough and really focus on the opportunity. In the new series Our Planet, he says we need to protect and manage ancient forests, but also create large new productive forests to tackle climate change and supply the wood we need for our low-carbon future.”https:/…/%E2%80%98think-globa l,-plant-…-tackle-climate-change/
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Gaining an understanding of Woodland Ecology can really help us to understand our woodland ecosystems better and give us the knowledge to manage and care for them better and in a more sustainable way, which is essential for the benefit of both wildlife and people. Come along! 🍄🌿

Whether you agree with the management or control of Deer or not, it is clear that this is a problem that cannot be ignored, with estimates of over 2 million Deer now roaming our countryside, and only 2 of the 6 species we now have in the UK are native. That's a lot of mouths to feed. This is an imbalance created by humans and so we have a responsibility to re balance in order to protect a myriad of other habitats and species.
Deer are valuable to our ecosystems, in the right ...numbers they play an important role as a grazing animal, helping to maintain balance of ground species in woodlands. However, in current numbers they cause complete devastation, simplifying woodland structures dramatically creating loss of habitat for birds, invertebrates and mammals and causing loss of floristic abundance and diversity.
If we are going to take responsibility for this issue, it is very important that we do it in the right way, this means knowledge and education on the issue and potential solutions.
If you are already managing deer in your woodland by bringing in external stalkers, it is absolutely essential that you have the knowledge to manage them correctly and make sure that they are working on YOUR terms. Come and learn all that you need to know to do this effectively on May 15th in the Wyre Forest.
http://smallwoods.org.uk/…/selecting-an d-managing-deer-man…/
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#Climatechange is having huge impacts on our natural environments, with many of the long term effects still unknown, however leading climate scientist have warned we only have 12 years left until we reach a point of no return with ecological collapse. It is clear that we all need to bring this crisis into the forefront of our awareness, take responsibility and start making serious changes in the way we act.
Planting trees, bringing our woods and forests back into management,... and doing so in a careful and sustainable way can have a huge impact on mitigating the effects of climate change.
We encourage you all to think about how you can play a part, do you have space in your garden to plant a tree? can you volunteer with an organisation that are working with wildlife? can you get involved in a campaign? can you buy your products and materials from sustainable sources? Each small action you take with the future of our planet in mind can have huge ripple effects 🌳
This article from the The Woodland Trust, explains some of the effects of climate change and how we can make a difference. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/…/tree s-and-climate-change/
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"My own interest in paddle making sprang from my involvement in the creation of four dugout boats.
These were historical reconstructions of ancient vessels which have been made since the stone-age and are still made today. I use my own paddles regularly both in dugouts and in a modern Canadian open canoe.
To make your own paddle is to join in a tradition which has remained relatively unchanged for several thousand years. With patience, modest skills and simple tools (axe, d...rawknife and spokeshave), anyone can produce a useful and even beautiful paddle.
On the paddle making course we will employ these tools on cleft pieces of green ash to produce a paddle from a single piece of wood. Rough shaping of the paddle blanks with an axe will be followed by measuring and reducing to thickness with a drawknife before finishing with spokeshaves"
From Clinton Chaloner, tutor of our upcoming paddle making course; http://smallwoods.org.uk/course/paddle-ma king/
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This workshop is to understand the science behind the government’s push on firewood in the clean air strategy and to find a way forward for the smaller firewood producer – what help or assistance is required. This event should be of interest to woodland owners, coppicers, arboriculturalists and other small firewood producers. Come along! 🔥

A new report from Forestry England looking at how we can adapt to future environmental and climatic conditions to help influence and inform tree planting strategies and advice given to land managers. Well worth a read. 🌿🌳
"Climate change and the increasing prevalence of pests and diseases are generating considerable uncertainty regarding the seed origin of planting stock for new woodland establishment in England. The assumption that locally sourced material provides the most ...appropriate option is increasingly being called into question because the environment to which trees are adapted is changing rapidly. It has been proposed that seed should be collected from warmer and drier environments than the planting site – a practice which can be termed ‘assisted migration’. This Research Report provides a review of published results from provenance tests of relevance to English native trees to identify factors which may influence the risk, suitability and desirability of the use of local versus non-local seed under climate change"
The document can be viewed here;https:/…/genetic-considerations-pr ove…climate-change-england/
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As many of you may know, the planning system can be a difficult one to navigate, so much so that many are unclear where to start and what is needed to present a strong case to the planing authorities.
Graham Morgan of The SLIM Woodlands C.I.C.; is an expert in his field as an environmental planning consultant, ecologist and coppice worker. He will guide you through all you need to know and give practical steps you can take to present your woodland project in the most positive frame to the Local Planning Authority and others.
http://smallwoods.org.uk/…/positive-env ironmental-planning…/

50 Shades of Green
At a meeting in Devon earlier this week, a forester who originally haled from New Zealand mentioned that one of the most striking differences between NZ and UK is the variety of shades of green. In NZ, he said there are about 5, in the UK, there are so many different greens.
The variety in shades of green is particularly evident at this time of year, when they are so many fresh greens that deepen quite quickly as the leaf pigments build up.
... Enjoy the many shades of British woods.
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A Happy Easter to all.
May all your woodland walks be full of eggs, and that at least some of them be woodcock. For those who are able, we recommend the GWCT/BTO woodcock survey. Photo from GWCT.
https://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/woo dcock-survey

A new course for woodland owners, woodland workers, and woodland managers. The course will help you have a clearer idea of the development planning system, with particular focus on England, and practical steps you can take to present your woodland project in the most positive frame to the Local Planning Authority and others.
The course content will include:
- The purpose of the planning system;... - Why the planning system matters to woodlands; - Types of development and when an Environmental Impact - Assessment (EIA) and plan-ning application are (not) required for woodlands; - Recent case studies; - Strategies for how you approach the planning system; - Environmental planning – taking a view in the round at the social, environmental and economic benefits of woodlands; - Producing a Woodland Concept Plan to gather early support; - Making Planning Work Better for Woodlands – an introduction to the new project being led by The Small Woods Association and The SLIM Woodlands C.I.C., and how you can be involved.
The course is classroom based. On the course, you will have the opportunity to start working on a plan for your woodland project/idea. You will also be provided supporting material to use after the course.
This course will be delivered by Graham Morgan of The SLIM Woodlands C.I.C.; an environmental planning consultant, ecologist and coppice worker.
Course Cost: £90
http://smallwoods.org.uk/…/positive-env ironmental-planning…/
BOOKING AND PAYMENT OPTIONS: Contact Judith Adams judithadams@smallwoods.org.uk
FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Richard Thomason 01952 432769/07964 934556 richardthomason@smallwoods.org.uk
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Spoon carving is a great way to start whittling and to learn about the properties of wood. Each spoon is completely unique which make great presents.
This course will help beginners get started and those wanting to progress their technique further and try out more advanced designs.
You will learn
... - Tool selection and sharpening - Wood selection - Splitting and roughing out - Carving and shaping - Finishing and protecting
Course Cost: £80
http://smallwoods.org.uk/course/spoon-car ving/
The course tutor will be Neill Mapes.
BOOKING AND PAYMENT OPTIONS: Contact Judith Adams 01952 432769 judithadams@smallwoods.org.uk
FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Richard Thomason 01952 432769 or 07964 934556 richardthomason@smallwoods.org.uk
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Lovely people and a great place to work <3

Fantastic folks, Fantastic Place, Fantastic Courses! Will certainly be back... Cheers Folks!

Excellent workshop day with dedicated knowledgeable kind staff

A Stupendous Set up, with a dedicated Staff.