3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 2

Summer 2007

VO L U N T E E R N E W
SLETTER
A-hunting we will go

Jon Parsons
Forget fox-hunting,
bans and

Private tree visible from public access.

demonstrations.
There’s now only one
hunt that everyone’s
talking about. Phil
Marshall explains

INSIDE
News pages 2 & 16

Ancient Tree
Hunt Special page 3

NEW
Education page 4
Make your mark

Photographers page 5
Flower power

In the woods page 6

A colourful experiment Stunning and precious – an ancient oak

New woods roundup page 8 It is mind boggling to think that a trees are, we’re certain that there are lots of
Get involved at our living organism can survive for others that we don’t know about. The hunt
stunning new sites
hundreds of years. Ancient trees fill us with will help us to find and care for these
Out of the woods page 10 awe. Steeped in history, teeming with wildlife, wonderful trees. Some have fascinating stories
We want your memories beautiful and seemingly magical, they are to tell and these will be heard again in our
irreplaceable natural assets. communities.
Speakers’ bulletin page 12
Many believe that the UK has the greatest Ancient trees are everywhere – in towns,
NEW
Woodland groups page 13
number of ancient trees in Northern Europe cities, gardens, parks and forests. The hunt
Frequently asked provides a simple, fun way for all the family to
but we want to find out for sure. By 2011,
questions page 14 enjoy exploring their local environment to
the Woodland Trust wants to help ancient
discover the natural treasures around them.
Volunteer tree hunters record at least 100,000
So, why don’t you pick up the scent and join
opportunities page 15 specimens.
the pack, as we scour the country looking for
Getting in touch page 16 What’s the point of a tree hunt? Well, whilst our quarry – some of the UK’s finest natural
we already know where some of our ancient monuments.
Turn to page 3 for more about the Ancient Tree Hunt.

red in England No. 1982873 www.woodland-trust.org.uk/getinvolved

3511/06/07
 Welcome
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 3

2 email: volunteers@woodland-trust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111

NEWS
Your £2m gift to our woods
Volunteers gave the Woodland Trust
251,043 hours last year. This time

Carole Sutton
has a notional monetary value
of £2,048,587 which equates to
From left to right: Merle Dekanski, Karen Lifford and around 73 full time members
Carl Hughes
of staff.Year after year, our
number of active volunteers is
Dear friends
increasing. The difference this is
There are two contrasting themes to making to our native woods is

Carole Sutton
this issue. One is very much of the tremendous. Thank you for the part
modern age. Working on conservation you are playing.
projects in urban areas can be difficult
as efforts are often blighted by anti-
social behaviour, a problem that can
be exacerbated by a lack of Picking pilot pays off
community spirit. Litter picking is more than just
But we have really uplifting success gathering a load of old rubbish.
stories to report in Hull (page 7), During the spring and summer of
Merseyside (page 13) and Northern 2006, we ran litter picking pilots at
Ireland (page 16), all of which have several woods in Cheshire, designed
been enthusiastically supported by to highlight any issues that this role
raises for volunteers.
WTPL/Carole Sutton

volunteers.

Our second theme is about looking to Questions about methods, risks,

the past but also celebrating what we disposal of litter and personal
protection equipment were all
have right now.The Ancient Tree Hunt
addressed. The results have been passed on to all the relevant Woodland
is looking for thousands of volunteers
Trust staff, ensuring that volunteers doing the very important job of ‘picking’
to join in the search, helping us to
in our woods will have all the support they need.
unlock the mysteries of ancient trees
as well as telling us where they are!

With this knowledge, more can enjoy

them and we can do much more to
Event helper training
The volunteers team is frequently
protect them. Read about the hunt on asked for details of volunteers who
pages 1 and 3. can help with Trust events. So, we
We hope you enjoy this issue and the asked many of you if you would be
interested in assisting. The response
coming summer.
was fantastic; so now 250 of you will
Best wishes be invited to participate in
workshops early this summer. If you
would like to get involved with
events but aren’t signed up for the
workshops, let us know and we will
keep you informed of any other
The volunteers team
training opportunities in the future.
Roles range from car park duties and
WTPL/Matt Limb

PS Think what can be achieved in 250,000

marshalling, to attending an event as
hours.That’s how much time you’ve given the sole representative of the
us – Thank you so much! See above. Woodland Trust.
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 4

VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 3

ANCIENT TREE HUNT

SPECIAL
Continued from front cover

Page edited by ancient trees volunteer, Phil Marshall

Tally ho! The big hunt is underway! Trees

So, how do I become an ancient tree hunter? with stories
It’s easy! To join the hunt, all you need
to do is head out of your front door
to tell
and scour the great outdoors to track The ancient Queen’s Oak
down and record ancient trees.You’re at Huntingfield Hall in
looking for the sort of tree that to Suffolk is so-called because

Kath Owen
encircle it, you’d need to join hands it’s claimed that Queen
with at least two other people. Elizabeth I shot a deer
from the shelter of it. In
Literally thousands of people across the UK will be in the pack with you, all helping reality, it’s much more likely
to create a living map of ancient trees. When you’ve tracked down your ancient that one of her entourage
tree, you can then enter the details online. did so in her presence.
Don’t worry if you’re not completely sure of every detail. Our expert volunteer The ancient Wolsey yew
verifiers will make sure that your ancient tree is at Birtsmorton Court in
properly mapped (see below). Even if you’ve already Worcestershire is named
recorded a tree, you can still go back online and add after Sir Thomas Wolsey,
more stories and photos. who spent time as the
On the website you’ll find lots of useful tips and chaplain of Birtsmorton.
information about the hunt, including step-by-step It’s believed that he
Margaret Lipscombe

instructions on how to register your ancient tree.You regularly sat and slept
can also see details of the ancient trees that have under the yew.
already been recorded near to where you live or work. The ancient oak which
stands at the heart of

Could I become an Redmire in the Yorkshire

Dales is renowned because
it’s said that John Wesley,
expert verifier? founder of the Methodists
in the 18th century,
We’re always looking for more expert verifiers to regularly stood beneath it
check records supplied by our ancient tree hunters. to preach to local villagers.
So, if you know your trees, you can read maps, you’ve Does your ancient tree
transport and internet access, and you have the time and have a story to tell? If so,
enthusiasm needed, then why not join our merry band of please tell us on the
Jon Parsons

volunteer expert verifiers? website.

You’ll be given training prior to beginning your verification tasks, including hands-on
experience of the hunt website. Then you’ll begin to receive notifications of newly
ore
created ancient tree records in your area. For each tree, you will verify the details d out m
To f i n , visit
using information provided by recorders. This may involve paying a visit and taking t h e hunt
oin rg.uk
photographs. Finally, you will activate the verified record. and j t -tree-hunt.o
ncien
www.a
To find out more about becoming a volunteer expert verifier, visit the website and
check out how you can get involved in the hunt.
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 5

4 email: volunteers@woodland-trust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111

E D U C AT I O N
The Woodland Trust’s education work engages adults and children,
nurturing an enduring appreciation of trees and woods. Find
out more by logging on to www.woodland-trust.org.uk/learning
There are many rewarding ways that volunteers can help

British trees update New book uncovered

The revised Because of technological In our spring
British Trees constraints ‘Lizabeth 2006 issue, we
website is ever- Henderson, who was introduced
closer to featured in the last issue, volunteer Nicky
Souter, a
completion had to hand over the reins to
lecturer who
thanks to the Andy. But Andy’s impressive speed and
Andy Chapman was working
time, energy and efficiency means great progress is being
with us and
enthusiasm of retired head- made and also hopefully indicates how
The
teacher, Andy Chapman. Living just much he is enjoying the task. Having
Association
five minutes from the someone able to for Science
Trust’s Grantham office, volunteer on a regular Education,
he has been able to give basis is a great asset as it to produce an
us one morning a week provides the kind of important new book. Now available,
between bursts of continuity this task needs. it is an innovative new resource for
supply teaching, which secondary school science teachers.
The revamped definitive
enable Andy to keep his Nature in a changing climate – Phenology
guide to British trees
professional hand in, and uncovered explains how students can
will soon be available online at
dedicate time to his allotments – yes, observe and record natural seasonal
www.british-trees.com
that is plural. Graham Blight changes and contribute to internationally
important research.
To order your copy, log onto
www.naturescalendar.org.uk/
secondary or call 0800 056 0643.

Make your mark on Nature’s Calendar

Last year, nearly 120,000 people took part in the Springwatch this year’s spring survey and gearing up to
and Autumnwatch surveys in association with the BBC, giving receive records for autumn.
us intriguing and really useful information about how nature is It’s not too late to become a recorder
WTPL/Robert MacLeod

responding to climate change. Some of the results from the for the autumn survey and it is easy to
Woodland Trust’s long-term research are presented in an take part. Recorders are given clear
interactive ‘Climate change garden’ narrated by TV weather information, helping them to identify
forecaster Michael common species and explaining what to
Fish. Take a look at it look out for and when. The first events should occur in July
on the ‘findings’ section and will include blackberries and rowan fruit ripening and the
of our Nature’s last swifts being spotted before migration.
Calendar website.
Records can be submitted online or by post. To become
Right now we’re a recorder, visit www.naturescalendar.org.uk or call
analysing the results of 0800 026 9650.
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 6

VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 5

P H OTO G R A P H E R S
Images are powerful and highly effective tools used for our campaigning
and fundraising work. To join our growing group of volunteer
photographers contact Julia Peet on 01476 581111 or
email photolibrary@woodland-trust.org.uk

Flower power CLOSE UP

The Woodland Trust’s handy leaf Name:
swatch book is one of our best Robert MacLeod
sellers, raising important funds Volunteer role:
for our woods. Now we would just retired after 11
like to follow this up with a years as a volunteer
wildflower swatch book. We are photographer
looking for images that we can use
Location:
free of charge for the new booklet.
Haslemere, Surrey
Our needs are very specific but definitely
My photographic CV: I first took up photography after
within the reach of a keen photographer. If
the war and have practised it as a serious amateur ever
you would like to help, here’s what we need.
since. A Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society since
1992, I have sent around 400 slides to the Woodland
Swatch book checklist Trust. My final project for them is to record all the
The images will be used for identification ancient trees in my area (see page 3).
purposes so they must show: The part I enjoy most is... seeing a successful slide when
✔ As much of the plant as it comes back from processing and feeling I’ve done
justice to the wood. It’s always a bonus to see your
possible including leaves
picture on a calendar or Christmas card.
and stem
The woods look best in… Each season has its appeal for
✔ Ideally, at least one flower
a photographer. In the spring, the new leaves give a taste
facing the camera and another
of summer to come and are wonderful, particularly if
turned slightly to one side so
WTPL/Steven Kind

backlit. Summer has trees heavy with leaves and birdsong

its shape and some of its
and autumn gives us those spectacular colours. There is
petals can be seen something about a bare tree in winter which is also
✔ The flowers as perfect beautiful, especially with a trace of snow or frost.
specimens with no abnormalities My advice to others thinking of volunteering is…
✔ No parts out of focus Have a go! And use a tripod. In woods, light is low,
calling for a slow shutter speed with absolutely no
✔ A simple background as the images will be ‘cut out’ camera shake.
and given a plain backdrop Examples of Robert's pictures can be seen on pages 4 and 15.

The species we would like to feature are: We have included some species that have finished flowering
wood anemone wood spurge wild strawberry bluebell for this year in the hope that you may already have these
yellow archangel meadowsweet twayblade bugle images in your back catalogue.
ramsons/wild garlic honeysuckle bramble violet Please provide your images in 35mm slide or digital format
early purple orchid red campion dogs mercury primrose (ideally 300 dpi and no less than 72dpi) by the end of
woody nightshade dog rose lily of the valley sanicle September to Julia Peet, email juliapeet@woodland-
harts tongue fern woodruff herb bennet snowdrop trust.org.uk or send to the Picture Library at the usual
rosebay willowherb ground ivy lesser celandine oxlip Woodland Trust address (see back cover). If yours is one of
broad-leaved helleborine wood sorrel lords and ladies wood avens the chosen images, we will ask you to sign a licence showing
enchanter’s nightshade golden rod black bryony foxglove that you are happy for us to use it. If you would like your
greater stitchwort mistletoe St John’s wort ivy slides returned, please include a prepaid envelope. Thank you.
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 7

6 email: volunteers@woodland-trust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111

I N T H E WO O D S
Our woods are some of the most spectacular natural places in the UK.
Many who enjoy them also offer time to help look after them, in all sorts of ways.

If you go down
to the woods today. . .
John Northover explains the science behind a very colourful experiment

You could be in for a

surprise – if you happen to be
at one of several Woodland Trust
experimental projects currently
blossoming. Working jointly with Landlife, the

All photos: WTPL/Simon Mageean

Woodland Trust is seeking ways to kickstart ecological
restoration in places where significant challenges are
posed. So the concept of the Forest of Flowers was
born – typically using ex-arable land where wild plants
could boost biodiversity, generate local interest, act as
weed control and provide colourful surroundings for
Thousands of seeds were sown providing large areas of colourful wild flowers.
the newly planted native trees.
The first phase of the trial in Geordie's Wood began in 2006
Two of those woods are Geordie's Wood, Glen Devon, Perth
and the second will be implemented this year.Volunteers
and Kinross (the largest Forest of Flowers project in the UK)
helped with the initial sowing and, to ensure that the project
managed by Philip Gordon and Wheeldon Copse, Alvanley in
has the best chance, a volunteer botanist is monitoring the
Cheshire which is under the watchful eye of Tim Kirwin.
progress of the new plants. Species such as red campion,
At Wheeldon Copse, ribwort plantain, common knapweed, meadowsweet, yarrow,
after careful soil cornflower, corn marigold, poppies and woodland edge plants
preparation, which have been planted in the first phase.
involved the use of a
In Cheshire the range of planting has included cornfield annuals
special Danish plough
such as corn chamomile, ox-eye daisy, poppy, cornflower and
kindly loaned by
corncockle with the aim of avoiding the appearance of ragwort
Landlife, seeds
and creeping thistle that so readily invade open ground. The
were either
perennials, such as red campion, greater stitchwort, self heal,
WTPL/Carole Sutton

broadcast in the
lesser celandine, garlic mustard, lady's bedstraw are gradually
autumn or
getting established alongside the annuals. Bluebells, which can
planted as plugs in
take up to five years from seed to flower, are also
the spring. A
included in the planting scheme.
technique called
'soil inversion' was used to reduce the competition from As far as is possible, flower seeds are locally
weeds – which is where the Danish plough comes in. Digging sourced and the species selected are those
down deeply, between 60 and 100cm, is expected to give trees known to occur naturally in the district.
improved stability and the turned subsoil provides a good start The Forest of Flowers sites can be seen in
for the wildflowers. their full blooming glory from May to September.
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 8
Information appeal –
ancient woodland inventory
For the first time, an inventory of ancient and long-
established woodland has been created for Northern Ireland,
bringing it into line with the rest of the UK.
Back on the map was produced after extensive archive research
and field surveys of over 2,500 woods which have survived
since at least 1830. But this is just the beginning.
‘We are keen to find out more about these special woods and
hope that local people can help us refine the inventory,’ says
Sian Thomas, who managed the project. ‘Our website explains
how to research your own local wood, and we are also asking
for people's stories and memories of the woods on the
inventory. And please let us know if you hear of any that are
under threat.’
For more information, visit www.backonthemap.org.uk
Woodland
comes to town
Mark Feather
Volunteers have planted 100,000 trees in and around the city
of Hull, creating 24 hectares (60 acres) of urban woodland, in a
city where woodland space has been scarce.
Urban woodland projects are often challenging and this was no
exception – on two sites, 90 per cent of the trees planted were
lost in their first week. But by the end of the project, twice the
number of trees had been planted than originally proposed with
the help of 4,900 school children.
The project has shown the great benefits trees bring to our
environment and the contribution new woods can make to
regeneration and the quality of life in our towns and cities.
Already, organisations in Hull are building on this success with
more woodland projects.
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 7
Joi n i ng D ot
Andi Clevely profiles bird expert
and award winning volunteer,
Dot Blakely
‘Just a huge surprise,’ was how Bangor's Dot Blakely
described receiving the Trust's Volunteer of the Year for
Northern Ireland award.
Her lifelong love of nature started when she was just a
few years old and her father first showed her a nest full
of tiny birds. Since then, birds have been Dot's passion,
involving her in a host of activities, maintaining dozens of
nestboxes and spending winter weekends monitoring the
annual congregation of 70,000 waders and water birds
on nearby Strangford Lough.
She shares her invaluable knowledge helping to deliver
birdwatching courses at Castlereagh College, where she's
noted for her unorthodox but memorable keys to
identification. ‘I tell them the wren's nothing much to
look at, just a cocked-up tail and a glorious song, while
the robin always forgets the end of his song and puffs out
his red chest instead. And an oystercatcher's like a flying
carrot with its bright red bill.’
Dot's keen involvement with the Woodland Trust was
precipitated by contractors illegally felling trees in a
woodland one day. ‘Birds and trees go together, don't
they,’ she said, ‘and I just saw red.’
That sadly common incident resulted in her devoting
considerable time and enthusiasm to the Trust,
distributing leaflets and visiting woods to lead
bird-identification walks that
have become immensely
popular with the public and
led ultimately to her award
last October.
‘It was lovely,’ she recalls, ‘and
they gave me a wooden key-
ring made from Nelson's ship.
That's usually only given to
royalty!’
New Woodland Groups section –
see page 13…And turn the page
for the New woods roundup
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:24 pm Page 9

8 email: volunteers@woodland-trust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 9

N E W WO O D S RO U N D U P
The Woodland Trust has recently acquired some wonderful new sites and,
with them, exciting new challenges for volunteers. David Goymour takes us on a tour

Helping out
Wragby Woods, Wentwood Forest, Newpor t Woodland officer Jon Winder is now planning work for which he
Lincolnshire and Monmouthshire

Stuart Handley
will need volunteer help – for example: people who can walk the
woodland paths regularly and report on any fallen trees or other
The background The background
problems; clearing paths and litter picking and other maintenance
Wragby Woods is an 80 hectare (200 acre) group of fields Plans include promoting
Wentwood is the biggest stretch of planted ancient around entrances to the wood; local experts who would be willing
about six miles east of Lincoln, in the Lincolnshire woodland in Wales, accounting for 3 per cent of the to talk to interested groups in the area.
biodiversity, developing
Limewoods area, one of the largest concentrations of lime country’s woodland. The Woodland Trust bought In June, Jon plans
footpaths, community
trees in the country. over 350 hectares (nearly 900 acres) of the forest in
work and school visits. to call a meeting
The British midlands mark the northern edge of the lime January 2006.
Woodland officer Peter of all those who
tree’s European habitat. The tree is historically interesting Lowe explained: ‘We intend Between the seventeenth and twentieth centuries would like to find

WTPL/Steven Kind
as the fibres under the bark are a traditional material in to have a community tree almost all the oaks and other broadleaved trees native out more about

Stuart Handley
rope-making. Oaks and other broadleaf trees thrive nursery involving local to Wentwood had been felled, either to clear land for volunteering at
alongside the limes. schools.Youngsters will pick farming or to be replaced with conifers. Since the Wentwood. Please
seeds in the forest, bring Woodland Trust has taken over, the strategy has been get in touch if you
Helping out them back and plant them in the nursery.’ to thin the conifers allowing the native trees and would like to be added to the

Intensive work on developing Wragby won’t start until next
winter, but site surveys are now being conducted, and anyone
living locally with the specialist knowledge to work on hedgerow
or streamside surveys should contact the volunteers team.
WTPL/Fiona Granger
He added:‘Rather than blanket the place with trees, we’ll create ancient woodland flora to regain a foothold. Primary invitation list.
watercourses, natural flower meadows and so on. There will school children have been involved in planting trees and
be lots of work for volunteers, but that’s a year or two down sowing tree seeds.
the line.’

Victory Wood, Kent

Hainault and Havering, The background

Clive Steward
Essex The name Victory Wood might make us think this
Glenn Mulleady

The background woodland was created 200 years ago to celebrate

H ainault Forest, says woodland officer Geoff Sinclair, is one
of the Trust’s best ancient tree sites: it includes 6,000
hornbeam pollards, anything up to 500 years old, and some
very old oaks.
The Woodland Trust looks after Hainault Forest on behalf of
Essex County Council. Recently the Trust has itself acquired a
55 hectare (135 acre) extension to the Forest.
Geoff Sinclair has held three heathland conservation days in
Hainault Forest, where the main task has been pulling up
saplings such as silver birch and alder, to make space for the
heathland species to flourish.
Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. The celebration is the right Helping out
Country Care,’ said Geoff. one, but in fact this stretch of land, which the Woodland Woodland officer Clive Steward needs ‘eyes and ears people’
He added: ‘We want to get Trust is planting, was acquired only recently, as a
Peter Coomber who walk the area regularly, and could keep him informed of
lots of children out planting ‘flagship’ site for the Trafalgar Woods campaign in 2005.
any scrambling bikes, abandoned cars and the like.
trees and discovering It forms part of the Blean, a 3,000 hectare (7,400 acre)
ancient woodland.’ Help will also be needed over the next year or so in developing
mosaic of woodland and farmland which runs along the
grazing land in the wood. About 50 hectares (120 acres) of
And Hainault is an ideal location for ancient tree hunters (see north Kent coast.Victory Wood has great potential,
Victory Wood, from a total of 140 hectares (345 acres), which
page 3).Volunteers can patrol pathways looking for trees more being bordered by ancient woods on
was previously arable land, was sown to
than 400 years old. When either side and to the north are two
grass last autumn. Clive hopes to encourage
ancient trees are found, important marshland habitats. The
they are measured and can local farmers to graze their cattle on this
southern half of the site was once an
be registered on the land once the rough pasture is established.
ancient woodland, felled for farming in
Ancient Tree Hunt Tasks available for volunteers will probably

Clive Steward
the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.
website. There is plenty include pulling out unwanted ragwort in
Helping out of work to do in surveying the summer.
David Goymour

There will be plenty of work for volunteers – of all ages. Hainault Forest and the
‘We want to involve people in caring for the Forest as land around it for ancient To play your part in caring for any of these new sites,
volunteer wardens, in conjunction with Epping Forest trees. please contact the volunteers team. All are open to visitors at any time.
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:24 pm Page 9

8 email: volunteers@woodland-trust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 9

N E W WO O D S RO U N D U P
The Woodland Trust has recently acquired some wonderful new sites and,
with them, exciting new challenges for volunteers. David Goymour takes us on a tour

Helping out
Wragby Woods, Wentwood Forest, Newpor t Woodland officer Jon Winder is now planning work for which he
Lincolnshire and Monmouthshire

Stuart Handley
will need volunteer help – for example: people who can walk the
woodland paths regularly and report on any fallen trees or other
The background The background
problems; clearing paths and litter picking and other maintenance
Wragby Woods is an 80 hectare (200 acre) group of fields Plans include promoting
Wentwood is the biggest stretch of planted ancient around entrances to the wood; local experts who would be willing
about six miles east of Lincoln, in the Lincolnshire woodland in Wales, accounting for 3 per cent of the to talk to interested groups in the area.
biodiversity, developing
Limewoods area, one of the largest concentrations of lime country’s woodland. The Woodland Trust bought In June, Jon plans
footpaths, community
trees in the country. over 350 hectares (nearly 900 acres) of the forest in
work and school visits. to call a meeting
The British midlands mark the northern edge of the lime January 2006.
Woodland officer Peter of all those who
tree’s European habitat. The tree is historically interesting Lowe explained: ‘We intend Between the seventeenth and twentieth centuries would like to find

WTPL/Steven Kind
as the fibres under the bark are a traditional material in to have a community tree almost all the oaks and other broadleaved trees native out more about

Stuart Handley
rope-making. Oaks and other broadleaf trees thrive nursery involving local to Wentwood had been felled, either to clear land for volunteering at
alongside the limes. schools.Youngsters will pick farming or to be replaced with conifers. Since the Wentwood. Please
seeds in the forest, bring Woodland Trust has taken over, the strategy has been get in touch if you
Helping out them back and plant them in the nursery.’ to thin the conifers allowing the native trees and would like to be added to the

Intensive work on developing Wragby won’t start until next
winter, but site surveys are now being conducted, and anyone
living locally with the specialist knowledge to work on hedgerow
or streamside surveys should contact the volunteers team.
WTPL/Fiona Granger
He added:‘Rather than blanket the place with trees, we’ll create ancient woodland flora to regain a foothold. Primary invitation list.
watercourses, natural flower meadows and so on. There will school children have been involved in planting trees and
be lots of work for volunteers, but that’s a year or two down sowing tree seeds.
the line.’

Victory Wood, Kent

Hainault and Havering, The background

Clive Steward
Essex The name Victory Wood might make us think this
Glenn Mulleady

The background woodland was created 200 years ago to celebrate

H ainault Forest, says woodland officer Geoff Sinclair, is one
of the Trust’s best ancient tree sites: it includes 6,000
hornbeam pollards, anything up to 500 years old, and some
very old oaks.
The Woodland Trust looks after Hainault Forest on behalf of
Essex County Council. Recently the Trust has itself acquired a
55 hectare (135 acre) extension to the Forest.
Geoff Sinclair has held three heathland conservation days in
Hainault Forest, where the main task has been pulling up
saplings such as silver birch and alder, to make space for the
heathland species to flourish.
Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. The celebration is the right Helping out
Country Care,’ said Geoff. one, but in fact this stretch of land, which the Woodland Woodland officer Clive Steward needs ‘eyes and ears people’
He added: ‘We want to get Trust is planting, was acquired only recently, as a
Peter Coomber who walk the area regularly, and could keep him informed of
lots of children out planting ‘flagship’ site for the Trafalgar Woods campaign in 2005.
any scrambling bikes, abandoned cars and the like.
trees and discovering It forms part of the Blean, a 3,000 hectare (7,400 acre)
ancient woodland.’ Help will also be needed over the next year or so in developing
mosaic of woodland and farmland which runs along the
grazing land in the wood. About 50 hectares (120 acres) of
And Hainault is an ideal location for ancient tree hunters (see north Kent coast.Victory Wood has great potential,
Victory Wood, from a total of 140 hectares (345 acres), which
page 3).Volunteers can patrol pathways looking for trees more being bordered by ancient woods on
was previously arable land, was sown to
than 400 years old. When either side and to the north are two
grass last autumn. Clive hopes to encourage
ancient trees are found, important marshland habitats. The
they are measured and can local farmers to graze their cattle on this
southern half of the site was once an
be registered on the land once the rough pasture is established.
ancient woodland, felled for farming in
Ancient Tree Hunt Tasks available for volunteers will probably

Clive Steward
the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.
website. There is plenty include pulling out unwanted ragwort in
Helping out of work to do in surveying the summer.
David Goymour

There will be plenty of work for volunteers – of all ages. Hainault Forest and the
‘We want to involve people in caring for the Forest as land around it for ancient To play your part in caring for any of these new sites,
volunteer wardens, in conjunction with Epping Forest trees. please contact the volunteers team. All are open to visitors at any time.
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 11

10 email: volunteers@woodland-trust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111

O U T O F T H E WO O D S
You don’t have to work in the woods to help the Woodland Trust.

Christmas
cheer
When the final total for this year’s Jane Horrocks launches the
2007 Woodland Trust
Christmas Card Recycling Campaign came in, Christmas Card Recycling
we thought all our Christmases had come at Scheme
once! Thanks to your help in promoting the
campaign, we recycled a staggering 91 million
cards – an 11 per cent increase on last year.
This will enable us to plant over 20,000 trees. A disappointed Tesco
HQ said next year all
But of course, the campaign’s importance goes
store managers will get a
beyond direct fundraising – it’s a great profile-raiser.
note in mid-January to
This year we appeared on BBC Breakfast News, Radio 4
remind them that bins must stay
and, with help of celebrities Jane Horrocks and Coronation
in place until 31 January. So, as you
Street’s Debra Stephenson, we graced the GMTV and This
can see, this information is hugely valuable and we
Morning sofas and countless magazines and newspapers.
appreciate your time. Unfortunately we’re unable to
Many thanks to those of you who posted back feedback forms. respond personally due to mailing costs, so we hope you
Many of you told us that some Tesco bins were pulled early. will accept this huge THANK YOU!

Wanted – armchair saviours

Could you help us to save ancient woodland
from the comfort of your own home?
We are looking for people who can give us an
early warning about any plans that could affect
ancient woodland. The more notice our
Woods Under Threat team has to act, the
greater the chance of the wood being saved.

All you need is a computer with a broadband

connection and a willingness to search council
websites for planning applications and local
development frameworks that may impact on
these irreplaceable woods.

We will offer training in how to search the

sites and how to cross-check against the
ancient woodland inventory. Some prior knowledge of the
planning system would give you a head start but it is not essential.

This role is highly flexible as it can be carried out from anywhere with computer access and for as many hours as you wish.

To start saving woods now, contact the volunteers team.

3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 12

VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 11

We don’t deserve all CLOSE UP

the credit, you do!
The Woodland Trust has launched a new credit
card with The Co-operative Bank. .
It’s an easy way to generate funds for the Trust through
your usual daily spend. We receive £20 for every account
opened before 30 June 2007 and £15 for every new
account thereafter.
If every volunteer signed up for a card before 30 June, we’d
raise £44,900 – and that’s before you even spend on the
card. If you’d like to know more check out the enclosed
leaflet or visit www.woodland-trust.org.uk/cc
Name:
Malcolm M Caporn
Volunteer role:
legal team member
Location:
Grantham, Lincolnshire
The part of the role I enjoy most is… good question,
there’s a lot to choose from! Using my skills and knowledge
even though retired; interacting with some lovely people;
getting around to see sites and meet people on the
ground…
My ideal natural place is… Great Britain.You can’t beat its
diversity; different places for different moods
I was first inspired by woods when… The woods near me
where I grew up were one minute away and belonged to the
house I lived in. There is no time when I cannot recall
pleasure from trees.
Other things I do with my time are… motorcycling,
playing bridge (I’m on the Derbyshire County team),
badminton, acting treasurer for the Nottinghamshire and
district Pre-Retirement Council, going to the gym, being a
reader at church, visiting the opera – and friends, and going
on holiday. I also like food and wine!
My advice to others thinking of volunteering is… do it!
There is something somewhere which will suit what you
want to do; the opportunities are endless.
In the future I would like to… spend more time with friends,
visit more of Scotland and Wales, pass the advanced motor-
cycling test, stay healthy and grow old, but not too gracefully.

Memories of the storm

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Great Storm of Woodland Trust woods would be
useful. Information might include:
1987, and we’re looking for any memories people have of the
the damage you saw, a description
event that we can use in a PR campaign.
of the impact on wildlife, any
WTPL/Keith Huggett

Any recollections you have of how they affected local strange items getting blown into
the woods and notable trees that
were damaged or that withstood
the impact.

If you can help,

eer
olunt
please contact the
See V e 15
volunteers team.
i e s o n pag
tuni t
oppor les
ore ro
WTPL/Jane Begg

for m wood
s’
u t o f the
‘o
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 13

12 email: volunteers@woodland-trust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111

S P E A K E R S ’ BU L L E T I N
Awareness of the Woodland Trust’s work is given a huge boost by our speakers’
network. We have over 100 voluntary speakers all over the UK.
If you know of an organisation or group that would like to book a presentation,
contact on 01476 581111 extension 264 or email vs@woodland-trust.org.uk
Page edited by Mandy Hillier

New presentation packs Picture

A new updated version of the Volunteer Speakers’ Pack will be available soon.
But don’t jettison your old one yet! We haven’t replaced the whole pack, as this
this
would have been too expensive. Instead, we’ve produced some new slides to
replace the ones that were out of date.

A brand new set of notes is also available to accompany the pack, including
updates on some of the Trust’s more recent projects, like the Ancient Tree
Hunt, and other activities.

And, for the first time, a new electronic version of the pack will be produced.

WTPL/Carl Hughes
Contact us on the phone number or at the email address above to ask for
your pack.

Go surfing Speakers are often on the look out for

that bit extra in the form of great
Have you been to the Woodland Trust website illustrations to pep-up talks or give an
individual slant. Here the Trust can help
lately? If you have internet access, pay a visit before a talk to get the most with information and can sometimes buddy
up to date information about what’s happening at the Trust, helping you to give up a speaker with a keen photographer. If
your presentation a fresh you would like to know more, please get
feel.You might even find the in touch (see above).
information you need to field
that tricky question. The
home page highlights some of Talks pay off
the biggest stories and other
Last year proved a record breaker in cash
places well worth a visit
raised directly from talks given by the 105
include ‘news releases’ and
volunteers who made up the speaker's
‘campaigns’. If you would like
network.

to receive regular updates by email, click
the button on the home page to
subscribe to our e-newsletter.
Visit www.woodland-trust.org.uk
The website is currently being redesigned.
See page 15 to find out how you can be
involved.
From January to December 2006, £8,000 was
added to the Trust’s charitable income as a
direct result of talks. But, in a sense, that is
just the beginning. The indirect benefits are
the spreading of the good word about the
Trust and the value of trees, the recruitment
of new members and volunteers, the later
donations made as a result of learning about
our work or simply the inspiration to plant a
tree – the ripples spread far and wide.
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 14
WO O D L A N D G RO U P S
The Woodland Trust supports over 250 groups who
work wonders in the woods, reaping all the benefits of teamwork.
The Community Woodland Network past and present
Our Community Woodland Network is entering a
new phase after four successful years supporting
groups in woods all over the country. In that time
the Network has:
Signed up 250 groups
Distributed 79 grants totalling over £100,000 which
groups have used for equipment, training and events
Created a well-used website (see below) where
members can set up their own mini-website, share
information with other groups and check out the
A community
rallies on
Merseyside
Lynda Brown talks to a group whose efforts have
brought a disillusioned neighbourhood new hope
A recent initiative between the Woodland Trust and
residents living near St Benedicts Wood, Eccleston, Merseyside
has shown how local partnerships can work wonders.
Eighteen months ago, St Benedicts Wood, an urban woodland
site – which boasts a flourishing stock of Elm trees – became
a meeting point for gangs of youths indulging in drinking
parties and other anti–social behaviour, causing distress to the
local community.
With the support and advice of Tim Kirwin, Woodland Trust
woodland officer, they formed the Friends of St Benedicts
Wood and decided to tackle the problem head on with some
simple, practical steps. They began with a massive litter clean-
up; removed the paved area where the youths congregated;
encouraged groups of residents to walk the woods regularly;
and raised £1,200 to install wooden bollards to prevent vehicle
New group for Londonthorpe
The first seeds have been sown for a new group
at the Woodland Trust’s Londonthorpe Wood in
Grantham, Lincolnshire. Already, a group of volunteers
has been coming along to regular tasks days and, in
the longer term, we are hoping to form a ‘Friends’ group. If you live locally and would
like to get involved in caring for this attractive, historic wood, please get in touch.
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 13
latest news on grants, events and useful publications
Offered continuing support with advice on setting up a
new group, a quarterly newsletter and a biannual conference
Community Woodland Network groups don’t have to be
working in a Woodland Trust wood because the network
enables us to act as facilitators with the ultimate aim of seeing
as many native woods as possible properly cared for. Now
we’ve set our sights on making the network even bigger.
For more information, visit www.yourwoods.org.uk,
or call 01476 581155.
Photos courtesy St Benedicts Wood volunteers
access, planting trees donated by the Woodland Trust behind
the bollards to provide a natural barrier.
Today the youth problem has improved. ‘It’s been hard work,
but worth it,’ says Janice Crompton, the group’s secretary, who
with the chair, Sarah Hagen, organises a newsletter which is
delivered to 300 residents. ‘Working with the Woodland Trust
has helped us appreciate how lucky we are to have St
Benedicts, and the Friends group is helping to knit the local
community together more. It’s fulfilling to be able to help
restore the wood to its former glory.
‘We’ve planted a wild flower meadow and held our first
children’s event. This year we’re building our own website, will
be holding community nature talks, tree planting – and we’re
hoping to publish our own photographic calendar just in time
for Christmas!’.
DIARY DATE
WTPL/Clare Burnside
Next Community Woodland
Network conference
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July 2007
Stoke Rochford Hall, Lincolnshire
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm
14 email: volunteers@woodland-trust.org.uk
F R E Q U E N T LY A S K E D
QUESTIONS
Q Is my insurance valid
when I use my own car to
travel somewhere as part of
my volunteering for the Trust?
Q Can I take wood
from felled trees which
have just been left on the
ground? And why do you
leave dead trees standing
in the woods – aren't
these dangerous?
Page 15
tel: 01476 581111
If you’re n
another
A Before using your car, please consider whether you are using the most there will b
environmentally friendly form of transport that is practical. The Woodland Trust encourages or for fu
and supports this but, we do appreciate that, as woods are often off the beaten track, car o
use will sometimes be necessary.
If you do need to use your car while you are volunteering for us, you should tell your
insurers in writing. This is important because failure to inform your insurers may invalidate
your cover – but informing them shouldn’t result in an increase in your premium.
If you are likely to give a lift to other volunteers, or carry tools or other equipment, again
you must inform your insurers.
Of course, it is essential that your vehicle has a valid MOT (if appropriate) and that you have
a valid driving licence. We may ask you to provide copies of your driving licence, insurance
documents and MOT certificate for our records. Finally, if a volunteer is asked to drive a
Woodland Trust vehicle, they will be insured under our own policy as a named driver and
will need to provide a valid driving licence to ensure cover.
A In a word no, you shouldn’t remove logs which you see lying around in the woods. Dead
wood, both standing and fallen, has a high ecological value within the woodland habitat. Many
different types of bats, birds, amphibians, mammals, fungi and insects make use of dead wood.
As a responsible landowner, we have a duty of care to regularly inspect the trees within our
woods and carry out appropriate remedial action. In the case of standing deadwood, it all boils
down to location. A standing dead tree close to a road, housing or a busy footpath may be
potentially dangerous and sometimes we have to remove them. But a standing dead tree in a
more remote part of the wood can
often be left to rot away in peace,
providing a fantastic habitat for
many different woodland dwellers.
For your own safety, if you see a
tree in one of our woods that you
think might be dangerous, please do
not try to deal with it yourself.
Contact the woodland officer
responsible for the site, or our
office in Grantham as soon as you
can and they can come and check
Bennet Aldous
the tree and deal with it
appropriately.
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 16

VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 15

VO L U N T E E R
O P P O RT U N I T I E S
If you’re not already a Woodland Trust volunteer or would like to do more, here is
another selection of volunteer opportunities. If you want to help native woods,
there will be a role to suit you whatever your skills or circumstances. For more ideas,
or for further details about any of the roles below, contact the volunteers team
or visit the website at www.woodland-trust.org.uk/getinvolved

Office based Other opportunities

administrators in this newsletter
Based in Bangor Ancient tree hunters
(Northern Ireland), UKwide pages 1 & 3

Grantham or Edinburgh
Woodland Trust offices are
looking for regular general
admin support. If you can
easily get to one of the
places above and have basic
IT knowledge and good
organisational and
interpersonal skills we need
your help. In our friendly
offices, we will offer
interesting tasks that will help
you to develop your skills.
Website and IT
testers
WTPL/Robert MacLeod
Ancient tree verifiers
UKwide page 3
Flower swatch
photographers
UKwide page 5
continue for the next year or with roles arising from our
Phenology
so. To make the change go as communications with
UKwide page 4
smoothly as possible, for staff supporters, like-minded Ancient woodland
and supporters, we would like organisations and inventory researchers
a number of volunteers to get contractors. Northern Ireland page 7
Hedgerow and
involved with testing the new
This may involve data entry, streamside surveyors
facilities that the systems Lincolnshire page 8
collating information or
offer. Whatever your skills or Tree wardens
communicating with our
equipment, we would like to Essex page 8
contacts by email, letter or
hear from you as we want to Wood wardens
phone. The role can be Newport/
test as many different Monmouthshire page 9
carried out from home and
scenarios as possible.
you can choose which Speakers
Newport/
activities you would like to Monmouthshire page 9

Based anywhere
Behind the be involved in and tell us Wood wardens
scenes support how much time you can Kent page 9
The Trust’s websites and UKwide
offer. A PC with internet Woods Under Threat
plan researchers
many of our IT systems are access and telephone will be UKwide page 10
currently undergoing a full Our team of administrators required for some, but not Task group members
revamp which is expected to need people who can help all, of the activities. Lincolnshire page 13

We welcome contributions to this newsletter.

Short items or ideas for longer articles can be sent to:

email: newslettereditor@woodland-trust.org.uk

post: Sallyanne Flemons, Editor, the Volunteer Newsletter,

The Woodland Trust, Autumn Park, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6LL
3511_Sum Nwsltr07 1/6/07 12:13 pm Page 1

16 email: volunteers@woodland-trust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111

N E W S & C O N TAC T S
A happy ending
VO
The Woodland Trust’s
CLOSE UP
Name:
urban sites are often not Ian Karpinski
the prettiest, or the
richest in wildlife, and Location:
they can be very high Newcastle upon Tyne
maintenance. But, they are
Volunteer role:
extremely valuable for corporate volunteer
their ability to make
The part I enjoy most is . . . helping recycle, and
woods accessible to people from all walks of life.
raising money for the Trust. I'm involved in the
Our Community Wood Warden programme in Northern Christmas Card Recycling Scheme at work. I collect
Ireland has just closed after three successful years working at cards throughout the year and we sent 1.9 metric
ten of the Province’s most difficult Trust sites. With the help tonnes of them this time. I also collect mobile phones
of the Big Lottery Fund, 60 voluntary wood wardens were and toner cartridges for the Trust; we have about
recruited. They gave a total of 25,000 hours of their time, 14,000 staff mainly working for the Department for
attending 10 training courses, and helping to run 124 events, Work and Pensions and the HM Revenue & Customs.
planting 3,000 trees and involving 3,000 children. My ideal natural place is. . . North Northumberland.

Now, there is a marked The woods look best in. . . spring, when the wild
difference in anti-social cherry and hawthorn blossoms.
behaviour in these I was first inspired by woods when... I used to spend
woods, tempered by my school holidays on a farm near Holy Island and
the strength of spent the summer horse riding in the woods and on
community involvement. the beach. I learnt to respect nature from an early age.
Although the
My other interests
programme has officially I’m also a volunteer for the WWF and used to run
ended, with our the local volunteer groups. I'm a panelologist (comic
support, many of these book collector) and am restoring a 1972 vintage
wardens will continue Japanese motorbike.
to take care of these
important places.
The credits
Getting in touch Thanks to the following who offered their considerable
talents free of charge to help put together this issue:
The Woodland Trust Bennet Aldous, Mandy Hillier,
cartoonist speakers’ page editor
Autumn Park, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6LL Mandy Brilliant, Phil Marshall,
Tel: 01476 581111 proofreader ancient tree writer
BT Textdirect: 18001 01476 581135 Lynda Brown, Frances Nichols,
feature writer proofreader
email: volunteers@woodland-trust.org.uk Andi Clevely, John Northover,
www.woodland-trust.org.uk/getinvolved feature writer feature writer
David Goymour, Carole Sutton,
assistant editor picture researcher
Please recycle this newsletter or reuse it by leaving it in a public …and to those who agreed to be interviewed, completed
place like a library or doctor’s surgery. questionnaires or provided images free of charge.

The Woodland Trust logo is a registered trademark Registered Charity No. 294344 A non-profit making company limited by guarantee Registered in England No. 1982873
Ê Printed on 100% recycled paper 3511/06/07