Winter 2007

VO L U N T E E R N E W
SLETTER
“WAVE GOODBYE
Andi Clevely TO BOREDOM”
investigates the Trust’s
This online invitation to take up the weekly challenge issued by Nature Detectives,
imaginative new the Woodland Trust’s new activity club for children, epitomises its dynamic new
learning strategy and strategy for inspiring people to enjoy and care for the natural world around them.
discovers it’s not just The Trust’s fresh agenda is not directed solely With dreary associations with classrooms,
kids’ stuff.There are at youngsters, though, but at all ages.Adult formal courses and passive study, the concept
opportunities for volunteers are already discovering new skills urgently needed a makeover.
grown ups too at workshops and training weekends across This was certainly the situation in 2002, when
the length and breadth of the UK, from the Trust first began to form a coherent
INSIDE guiding woodland walks to researching local education policy.The main concern until then
history or repairing dry stone walls, and more had been protecting trees and woodland, and
News 2 & 16 opportunities are in the pipeline. Learning any work with schools and young people was
these days is truly lifelong and has been undertaken on an ad hoc basis. Capturing
Learning feature 1&5
Wave goodbye to boredom
identified by the Trust as a key strand for their imagination was one thing, however;
development over the next few years. retaining their commitment long-term was
Photographers 3 quite a different challenge, not at the time a
For many people education is still seen as a
Speakers 4 specialised facility for children. So when the conscious part of the Trust’s philosophy.
Ten key tips new strategy began to take shape, one of the As Graham Blight, the Trust’s learning
Out of the woods 6 first tasks was to redefine ‘education’ itself. programme manager recalls: ‘We really
Continued on page 5
Making movies

WTPL/Stuart Handley
Nature books for kids

The inside story 8&9

Focus on the Woodland Trust

In the woods 10
Wild gardens

Ancient trees 12

Woodland groups 13

Frequently asked
questions 14
Where to plant a sapling

Volunteer
opportunities 15

Getting in touch 16

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/getinvolved
2 email: volunteers@woodlandtrust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111

NEWS

Carole Sutton
Volunteer of the Year 2007
The winner of the Watkins Memorial Medal
for Volunteer of the Year 2007 is Janet Anders.
Janet has been working tirelessly as a member of the Friends of Philipshill
Wood since 1994. She wrote about her experiences of managing the wood
From left to right: Merle Dekanski, Karen Lifford and in the winter 2005 edition of this newsletter. Read it again at
Carl Hughes
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/getinvolved.
Dear friends Winners of the other categories are:
We have an educational issue for you John Martin – South East Peter Vince – Speaker
this time – but before you turn tail
and run, let us explain. Doug Wiggins – South West Jennifer Oakes – Speaker

Our main feature is about learning Janet Anders – Midlands (and Malcolm Caporn – Project
overall winner)
and how helping people discover more
Angie Day – Research
about woods and trees is now more Vanessa Champion – North
important than ever before at the Nicky Souter – Phenology
Rosalyn Thompson – Wales
Woodland Trust. But it’s a new kind of
Delia Stewart – Scotland Wendy and Roger Sarjeant –
learning, out of the classroom, that
Woods Under Threat
will truly inspire. Annesley Malley – Northern
Ireland (see page 4) Steve Highfield – Photographer
There’s also a literary flavour with a
recommended booklist for younger Olwyn Spencer – Central Office Rob McBride – Ancient Tree Hunt
readers (page 6) and even poetry (see
back cover). Well done to you all.
If you normally turn straight to the
section most relevant to you, it’s really
worth taking a look at the rest of the A sneak preview
magazine as well. Kate Atkin has Come spring 2008 the
written a very wise article full of tips Woodland Trust will be
for anyone who has to speak publicly. launching a brand new
And if you ever have to publicise website with a fresh
anything, Sian Thomas’s advice on look and many new
features. Between now
writing news releases could prove
and then, a selected
invaluable (page 13).
group of people are
Congratulations to the winners of this trialling it to ensure
year’s Volunteer of the Year (see right). that everything is
Every year, judging gets more difficult working perfectly
before it is officially
because there are so many worthy
unveiled.
candidates.The Trust is grateful to all
of our volunteers who make such a If you would like to be
difference. one of the first people
to try out the website,
Best wishes please let us know and
we will put your name
forward to be invited to join the trial. be found.There will be a simple
All you need is access to the form on the home page where you
internet.You will be given the ‘secret’ can report any glitches or leave other
The volunteers team web address where the new site can comments.
 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 3

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 become a volunteer photographer
contact Julia Peet on 01476 581111
or email photolibrary@woodlandtrust.org.uk

Images in action
Julia Peet explains how the Woodland Trust benefits from images

Smith
supplied by our growing band of volunteer photographers

a
Georgin
We are extremely fortunate to have built up, over the years, a team
of very talented volunteer photographers whose skills benefit the Trust
in many ways.

Richard Becker
They have helped the Woodland Trust Photo Library amass thousands of images
for the Woodland Trust’s use.

Here, there and everywhere

Images taken by volunteer photographers have been used in:
Fundraising literature, partnership applications and presentations
Information leaflets and brochures
Educational material

reen
Ted G
Magazines, especially our member’s magazine, Broadleaf
Newsletters
Powerpoint presentations by staff
Books, including our popular series of Woodland Guides
Tree and bench dedication literature which enable supporters
wishing to place benches/trees in woods to see images of the
woods involved
Products for sale in our online shop, including flower swatches
and cards
Various calendars that raise money for the Trust

The ‘cream’ of the images sent in by volunteer photographers are also

added to the Trust’s small commercial library, woodlandpictures.com,
which now has around 5,000 images.This site can be accessed by the Steven Stu
Highfi ar t
general public who can buy the use of these images and this, in turn, eld Co
ope
r
brings in a little extra income towards the Trust’s valuable work.

Photo library assistant wanted

The Woodland Trust Photo Library contains some 35,000
images as a mixture of transparencies, photographs and digital
images. Much of this needs to be placed on an electronic
database system to allow for easier cataloguing and searching
by staff. Access to these images by all Woodland Trust staff is
essential to the smooth running of the library.
We are looking for people who can help us to scan these images
and enter relevant information about them onto the database.
Do you have computer skills and would you have two
mornings a week available to come in to our office in
Grantham? This would be an ideal role for someone with
experience in scanning images and working with Adobe
Photoshop, but this is not essential as training will be provided.
To find out more, contact the volunteers team.
 4 email: volunteers@woodlandtrust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111

SPEAKERS
Awareness of the Woodland Trust’s work is given a huge boost by our
speakers’ network. If you know of an organisation or group that would like
to book a presentation, contact the volunteer speaker service on
01476 581111 ext 264 or email vsmail@woodlandtrust.org.uk

Ancient woodland hero Presenting with impact

Lynda Brown talks to a speaker whose talents have “If you don’t know where you are going
been recognised at the highest level then any road will do”
Heroes come in all

WTPL/Rosanna Ballentine
Old Chinese Proverb
shapes and sizes, but Professional speaker and Woodland Trust supporter,
retired land agent, Kate Atkin, gives her top five tips on speaking well
Annesley Malley, recently
When asked to write an article for the speakers’
awarded the MBE for his
bulletin of the newsletter I gladly agreed, then I
services to heritage in
realised the task. ‘Provide useful tips on
Northern Ireland, is
presentation skills in 200 words’ – 2,000 and it
pretty unique by
would be easy. Nevertheless, I have risen to the
anyone’s standards.
challenge…
A keen historian and volunteer Annesley inspiring the younger generation
1. Know your message
at the Northern Ireland office,
systematically been cleared for It must be possible to ask of any
Annesley has devoted the last ten
farming. Saving and maintaining presentation ‘Who is it for?’ and ‘What will
years of his life to helping the
what remains of these precious the audience get from attending?’ and get a
Woodland Trust track down the
jewels is thus of immense satisfactory answer.
ancient woods of Northern
importance, both scientifically 2. Consider your audience
Ireland through old maps and
and culturally. What are their knowledge and skills,
records. He regularly speaks to
groups about his experiences, a The first step along the long concerns, dialect and intellect? The skilled
subject which always enthrals. road to acquisition is proving presenter matches their delivery level without
that a particular patch of wood patronising.
Unbelievable as it may seem,
is indeed ancient, which is why 3. Project your voice
though once rich in natural
historical documentation is so Imagine you are speaking to a room bigger
deciduous woodland (a team at
important.Through Annesley’s than the one you are in to help with
Queen’s University, including
help and expertise, the Woodland projecting your voice and, if you are speaking
Annesley, detected over 3,300
Trust has been able to acquire outside, face the group, ask them to draw in
sites) Northern Ireland now has
Prehen Wood, believed to be the close and stand up wind so your voice carries.
the lowest number of ancient
largest ancient woodland in the 4. Make eye contact
woods – woodland that predates
Derry area. Look at the audience and focus for a few
1600 – anywhere in Europe. Like
many of our native woods, with As Annesley explains, ‘Woods seconds on individual people rather than
no protection, they have are one of the richest sources scanning over their heads.
of biodiversity; as long as the 5. Speak clearly
WTPL/Steven Kind

woodland is large enough and Speak more slowly than you would normally,
protected, then through good vary the pitch and pace of your delivery and
management it will sustain itself pause after you have made your main points.
and everyone benefits. In the
bluebell season, for example,
Kate Atkin runs Aspire 2, an organisation which
our bluebell walks attract up to focuses on personal and organisational development
100 adults and children who also through facilitation, training, coaching and speaking.
benefit from the oxygen that the For more details, visit www.aspire-2.com
Prehen Wood woods give out!’
 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 5

“Wave goodbye to boredom” continued from front cover

needed a more defined brief. So we consulted

WTPL/David Ware
members, supporters and external organisations to
see if there was a distinctive role for the Trust in
engaging people’s interest in their woodland
heritage and reconnecting them with the natural
world. And the answer that came back was a loud
and resounding ‘Yes!’

This turned out to be an evolutionary moment that

led to a major shift in thinking. People were clearly
as important as the land, for they safeguard its future.

Events moved fast after that.The Heritage Lottery

Fund generously supported an imaginative
programme of activities; from securing the services
of teachers, to taking children beyond the classroom
into woods and incorporating their views into new
online resources, to setting up the Nature Detectives
with its fresh approach to inspiring young people.
Judging by their extraordinary success, these initiatives
met a widespread need and helped integrate individual
interest and effort into a general concern for environmental
care.The Nature Detectives website, which recently
This turned out to be an
evolutionary moment that led to
a major shift in thinking
recorded its millionth visitor (several thousand percent
over target), is immensely popular with children and
adults alike (have you tried ‘sudoku with leaves’? – see
www.naturedetectives.org.uk/play/puzzles/sudoku). Nature’s
Calendar, the grown-up version of Nature Detectives, has
inspired adults to look for the natural signs of spring and
autumn across the UK, thanks to its partnership with the
BBC’s Springwatch and Autumnwatch programmes, while the
Tree For All campaign has resulted in over 3.5 million new
trees being planted with the help of thousands of people.
Achievements so far have been huge and remarkable, but the
learning team’s work is not finished.The momentum continues
with a fresh focus on lifelong learning, including the wishes of
volunteers and the range of opportunities available for
personal involvement, even for trying something new.
‘If we can adapt past successes as models for lifelong learning,
it could open up new pathways for our current supporters
and spread enthusiasm for woods and trees to more people,’
Graham explains.‘We’ve been testing ideas and consulting
people, both throughout the Trust and externally, discussing
what learning actually means to them and how best to build
on our experience.’
The Woodland Trust has an impressive suite of active and well-
supported campaigns such as the Ancient Tree Hunt and the
Community Woodland Network, and one of the learning
team’s priorities has been to examine these very diverse
activities and decide how to present them in a more cohesive,
less compartmentalised way. Volunteers begin their relationship
with the Trust at different starting points, but their journey can
continue in various directions. Some may prefer online
learning while others have a thirst for practical participation.
Consultation about lifelong learning and the role the Trust
can play is ongoing and your views are welcome (see panel).
Informed by feedback new initiatives and programmes will be
devised and tested over the next couple of years.
For example, a pilot series of accessible (and non-examination!)
courses is on the cards at the University of Gloucestershire.
Scheduled variously for weekdays, Saturdays or complete
weekends, they will be presented with a distinctive Woodland
Trust emphasis so as not to compete with existing courses
offered by the Field Studies Council and other universities.The
first three modules will explore the science of phenology, the
mystery of ancient trees and our history locked up in ancient
woodland.They are likely to start next spring.
Clearly, education means much more than it used to. Changing
the name to ‘learning’ is not mere repackaging but a more
positive, purposeful orientation which recognises that the best
kind of education is active, social, reflective and, above all, takes
place in an appropriate context.The Chinese proverb is very
apt: ‘Tell me, and I forget. Show me, and I remember. Involve
me, and I understand.’
Is woodland learning of interest to you? You might want to
know more about woodland archaeology, tree identification,
coppicing or something completely different. Let us know.To
tell us, or for more information about anything in this
article, email learning@woodlandtrust.org.uk
 6 email: volunteers@woodlandtrust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111

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

I know what you did last summer

You read! At least, if you are under 16 you

The Reading Agency

did. In summer 2007 thousands of children signed up
to the Big Wild Read, pledging to read any six books
from their library over the holidays. The challenge was
run by the Reading Agency and the Woodland Trust and for
every book read, children were given a tree token and a
folder where they could collect stickers and other green-
themed bonus bits along the way. The tree tokens counted
towards Tree For All planting projects.

The aim was to encourage children to develop a lifelong

love of books and the natural environment.

Volunteer, ‘Lizabeth Henderson became involved in the

project, initially by visiting schools and other organisations
to research a list of recommended reading. During her visits
The Big Wild Read
The Reading Agency

recommends…
Ages one – four
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Michael Rosen and
Helen Oxenbury
Winnie the Pooh AA Milne
It’s a Perfect Night Abigail Pizer
Nature Detective Lynette Evans
Ages four – eight
The Minpins Roald Dahl
The Just So Stories Rudyard Kipling
The Old Tree Stump Roderick Hunt
The Lost Happy Endings Carol Ann Duffy
Ages eight – 12
Swallows and Amazons Arthur Ransome
The Forest David Bellamy
she found the Big Wild Read idea was met with such
Wolf Brother Michelle Paver
enthusiasm she wanted to become more involved, and
so she broadened her role to promoting the ‘Read’ more King of the Cloud Forests Michael Morpurgo
widely. Age 12 and up
The Read was a huge success and its legacy remains – A Midsummer Night’s Dream William Shakespeare
children enthused by nature and literature and a fabulous Poems of John Clare John Clare
booklist that will come in very useful indeed in the future. The Forestwife Trilogy Theresa Tomlinson
Right is an extract from the list for the benefit of anyone in Keeper Mal Peet
a position to share it with the younger generation.

What
a card
Our Christmas Card
Recycling Scheme just
gets bigger and better!
This year Marks &
Spencer will join
WH Smith, Tesco
and TK Maxx by
providing collection
bins in store
throughout January.
This year’s scheme
will once again focus on tree planting – the aim is
to plant 24,000 trees by collecting 100 million cards for
recycling. It’s an ambitious target but with your help we’re
confident we can pull it off.
Last year, you did a sterling job in helping us deliver the scheme.
Over 93 million cards were collected, enabling us to plant
22,000 trees. This year posters to promote the scheme can be
requested online at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/cards or by
calling Katherine Carr on 01476 581112.
Over 400 feedback forms were sent out to volunteers requesting
information on the delivery of the campaign locally. Your answers
showed that, on the whole, bins were in good condition and
prominently placed. On the flip side, some of you reported that
bins were pulled early. Armed with this info we were able to
tackle the retailers. As a result, this year mid way through the
scheme store managers will receive a reminder to stress the
importance of keeping the bins in store until 31 January. So, your
feedback really does make a huge difference.
For more information about the scheme and more ways you can get
involved, visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/cards
Emily Symons from Emmerdale
counts the cards
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 7
Making Movies
Ancient trees star in new film
‘We, in a
country heavily
affected by
mining and
industrialisation,
worship the
mountains, the
woods and the rivers around us.’
These are the words of Jorge Martin, speaking of his
homeland, the Basque region of Spain.
Jorge’s work has taken him all over the world –
Costa Rica, Mexico, San Francisco – and now London.
Here he works for a digital advertising company
specialising in branding.We are fortunate that the
talented Spaniard has also chosen to spend some of
his time in the UK helping the Woodland Trust to
make a truly inspiring film.
With the help of two assistants, also voluntary, Jorge
has made a wonderful ten-minute film explaining the
importance of the Ancient Tree Hunt and how to
identify ancient trees.
With a target of 40,000 people to be trained as
ancient tree recorders over the next four years, it
was vital to have effective tools to inform and
persuade.
Now the film can be shown to interested groups all
over the UK. Meanwhile, Jorge is making sure that
the woods he so loves in his home country are
thriving. Last Christmas, he planted 700 native trees
and 300 acorns in Northern Spain and plans to do it
again this year.
Courses will be run in 2008 for people
wishing to become ancient tree recorders
and participants will receive a FREE copy
of the film. If you would like to take part,
contact ath@woodlandtrust.org.uk
 8 email: volunteers@woodlandtrust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 9

The inside story

Sallyanne Flemons takes a tour of the Woodland Trust.

Protecting the UK’s native The council

charitable trust’s and grant-giving bodies, major donors and
Bennet Aldous

trustees
regional fundraising sources.
woods and trees is an
Corporate services
Chief executive
ambitious task.The
Woodland Trust takes the Corporate services keeps things running smoothly behind the
job very seriously and our scenes. It includes human resources and facilities, information

Operations Public affairs Communications Supporter Fundraising Corporate services

internal structure must systems and finance.

and engagement marketing

help us to realise this as
Human resources and facilities is responsible for supporting
effectively and efficiently as
all of the Trust’s staff. Roles include recruitment, staff welfare,

Scotland Government Public Direct Human

we possibly can.
training and health and safety.
Corporate
affairs relations marketing resources
Northern
As a volunteer you may have had contact with some parts of

Charitable
Information systems manages all the in-house IT systems.
Ireland Conservation Communications Supporter Information
the Trust but not others and been curious about how it all
trusts
Within the department, the GIS* team provides a service to

Wales policy services systems

Learning
hangs together. There have also been some small changes to
other parts of the organisation by producing maps and other

Campaigns Legacies and Grants

Finance
our structure recently, including a move for the volunteers
Northern Public
‘spatial’ data.

England woodland Major donors

team. So, to fill in the gaps, here follows everything you ever
participation
dedications and
Finance manages all the systems which keep money controlled
projects
wanted to know about the Woodland Trust.
Southern relationships
and secure and help staff to make effective financial decisions.
The big four England Volunteers
Regional
Land and
Where it’s at
fundraising
Everything we do makes some contribution towards one
property
or more of these aims: The Trust has four main offices: Grantham, England; Perth,

Woodland
Scotland; Bangor, Northern Ireland and Cardiff,Wales.

management
* Preventing further loss of ancient woodland
Woodland Trust Wales is also known as ‘Coed Cadw’.

* Restoring and improving the biodiversity* of woods
* Increasing new native woodland
* Promoting people’s understanding and enjoyment
of woodland
Our council
Ultimately, all our legal responsibilities lie with our council.
They agree the Trust’s direction, policies, key strategies, overall
budget, staffing levels and how our performance is measured.
Our council is made up of volunteers and they are our
‘trustees’ under charity law and ‘directors’ under company law.
They delegate the day to day running of the organisation to
the Trust’s paid staff.
The management team
The management team is responsible for the day to day
running of the Trust. It consists of the chief executive, deputy
chief executive (who is also our finance director), policy
director, woodland operations director, fundraising director
and our marketing director.
In 2008, the post of marketing director will be replaced with
two roles – director of supporter marketing and director of
communications and engagement, helping us to maximise the
potential of these two important areas.
Operations
The Trust cares for over 1,000 sites which comprise more
Woodland
creation
than 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of land. Operations, which
manages these sites, is split into: Scotland, Northern Ireland,
Wales, Northern England and Southern England.
The department also incorporates the land and property
team who survey the sites, handle legal site matters and do
the complex job of acquiring land.
Public affairs
This team leads on the Trust’s conservation policy, advocacy*
and campaigning activity. As well as political lobbying of elected
representatives and civil servants across the UK, they provide
advice and work on detailed policy issues like agriculture,
planning, biodiversity* and forestry policy.
They also run high profile campaigns on issues like climate
change, aviation and woods under threat and key projects such
as restoration of ancient woodland sites planted with non-native
conifers and the Northern Ireland ancient woodland inventory.
Communications and engagement
This department raises awareness of our cause by increasing the
number of individuals who engage with the Woodland Trust overall.
It includes public relations, electronic communications like the
web, the photo library, the volunteer photographers scheme, the
design and print team which produces publications such as
Broadleaf, the voluntary speakers scheme, and learning which
covers projects such as Nature’s Calendar (Phenology*) and
Nature Detectives (see page 5).
Plus, there’s all the other major public participation projects, like
Tree For All*, the Ancient Tree Hunt, and the Community
Woodland Network, which now sit within this department
But perhaps most importantly, the volunteers team have now
become part of communications and engagement, reflecting this
team’s focus on enabling many people to help us achieve our aims.
Supporter marketing
This department nurtures the relationships with over 300,000
existing members and supporters as well as increasing their
numbers overall. It is responsible for around 60 per cent of the
Trust’s annual income.
It oversees direct marketing, supporter services, legacies and
woodland dedication services.
Fundraising
This team also generates much of the income that we need to
achieve our aims, helping to raise awareness along the way.
The money is raised by developing relationships with companies,
A large number of staff are home based, a factor which
enables us to ensure we are truly UK-wide as well as helping
with the practicalities of managing our many woods.
If you have any more questions about the workings of the Woodland
Trust, or would like to get in touch with any of our departments,
please contact the volunteers team in the first instance who would be
happy to help.
For more information about the Woodland Trust including our aims
and examples of how we put this into practise last year, see our
annual review.Visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk or
call 01476 581111 and ask for a copy.
*Woodland Trust jargon buster
Tree For All – Our campaign which is on course to involve
one million children in planting 12 million trees over five years
– one tree for every child under 16 in the UK
Phenology – The study of recurring natural events.
Comparing records over the years with data about weather
conditions helps our understanding of how wildlife is affected
by a changing climate. Our phenology project, called Nature’s
Calendar, involves thousands of people in our springwatch and
autumnwatch surveys.
Biodiversity – The variety of plant and animal species in
a natural habitat.
Advocacy – In this context, it refers to when the Woodland
Trust offers advice to others or speaks out on their behalf in
order to benefit native woods or trees.
GIS – Geographical information systems
 8 email: volunteers@woodlandtrust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 9

The inside story

Sallyanne Flemons takes a tour of the Woodland Trust.

Protecting the UK’s native The council

charitable trust’s and grant-giving bodies, major donors and
Bennet Aldous

trustees
regional fundraising sources.
woods and trees is an
Corporate services
Chief executive
ambitious task.The
Woodland Trust takes the Corporate services keeps things running smoothly behind the
job very seriously and our scenes. It includes human resources and facilities, information

Operations Public affairs Communications Supporter Fundraising Corporate services

internal structure must systems and finance.

and engagement marketing

help us to realise this as
Human resources and facilities is responsible for supporting
effectively and efficiently as
all of the Trust’s staff. Roles include recruitment, staff welfare,

Scotland Government Public Direct Human

we possibly can.
training and health and safety.
Corporate
affairs relations marketing resources
Northern
As a volunteer you may have had contact with some parts of

Charitable
Information systems manages all the in-house IT systems.
Ireland Conservation Communications Supporter Information
the Trust but not others and been curious about how it all
trusts
Within the department, the GIS* team provides a service to

Wales policy services systems

Learning
hangs together. There have also been some small changes to
other parts of the organisation by producing maps and other

Campaigns Legacies and Grants

Finance
our structure recently, including a move for the volunteers
Northern Public
‘spatial’ data.

England woodland Major donors

team. So, to fill in the gaps, here follows everything you ever
participation
dedications and
Finance manages all the systems which keep money controlled
projects
wanted to know about the Woodland Trust.
Southern relationships
and secure and help staff to make effective financial decisions.
The big four England Volunteers
Regional
Land and
Where it’s at
fundraising
Everything we do makes some contribution towards one
property
or more of these aims: The Trust has four main offices: Grantham, England; Perth,

Woodland
Scotland; Bangor, Northern Ireland and Cardiff,Wales.

management
* Preventing further loss of ancient woodland
Woodland Trust Wales is also known as ‘Coed Cadw’.

* Restoring and improving the biodiversity* of woods
* Increasing new native woodland
* Promoting people’s understanding and enjoyment
of woodland
Our council
Ultimately, all our legal responsibilities lie with our council.
They agree the Trust’s direction, policies, key strategies, overall
budget, staffing levels and how our performance is measured.
Our council is made up of volunteers and they are our
‘trustees’ under charity law and ‘directors’ under company law.
They delegate the day to day running of the organisation to
the Trust’s paid staff.
The management team
The management team is responsible for the day to day
running of the Trust. It consists of the chief executive, deputy
chief executive (who is also our finance director), policy
director, woodland operations director, fundraising director
and our marketing director.
In 2008, the post of marketing director will be replaced with
two roles – director of supporter marketing and director of
communications and engagement, helping us to maximise the
potential of these two important areas.
Operations
The Trust cares for over 1,000 sites which comprise more
Woodland
creation
than 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of land. Operations, which
manages these sites, is split into: Scotland, Northern Ireland,
Wales, Northern England and Southern England.
The department also incorporates the land and property
team who survey the sites, handle legal site matters and do
the complex job of acquiring land.
Public affairs
This team leads on the Trust’s conservation policy, advocacy*
and campaigning activity. As well as political lobbying of elected
representatives and civil servants across the UK, they provide
advice and work on detailed policy issues like agriculture,
planning, biodiversity* and forestry policy.
They also run high profile campaigns on issues like climate
change, aviation and woods under threat and key projects such
as restoration of ancient woodland sites planted with non-native
conifers and the Northern Ireland ancient woodland inventory.
Communications and engagement
This department raises awareness of our cause by increasing the
number of individuals who engage with the Woodland Trust overall.
It includes public relations, electronic communications like the
web, the photo library, the volunteer photographers scheme, the
design and print team which produces publications such as
Broadleaf, the voluntary speakers scheme, and learning which
covers projects such as Nature’s Calendar (Phenology*) and
Nature Detectives (see page 5).
Plus, there’s all the other major public participation projects, like
Tree For All*, the Ancient Tree Hunt, and the Community
Woodland Network, which now sit within this department
But perhaps most importantly, the volunteers team have now
become part of communications and engagement, reflecting this
team’s focus on enabling many people to help us achieve our aims.
Supporter marketing
This department nurtures the relationships with over 300,000
existing members and supporters as well as increasing their
numbers overall. It is responsible for around 60 per cent of the
Trust’s annual income.
It oversees direct marketing, supporter services, legacies and
woodland dedication services.
Fundraising
This team also generates much of the income that we need to
achieve our aims, helping to raise awareness along the way.
The money is raised by developing relationships with companies,
A large number of staff are home based, a factor which
enables us to ensure we are truly UK-wide as well as helping
with the practicalities of managing our many woods.
If you have any more questions about the workings of the Woodland
Trust, or would like to get in touch with any of our departments,
please contact the volunteers team in the first instance who would be
happy to help.
For more information about the Woodland Trust including our aims
and examples of how we put this into practise last year, see our
annual review.Visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk or
call 01476 581111 and ask for a copy.
*Woodland Trust jargon buster
Tree For All – Our campaign which is on course to involve
one million children in planting 12 million trees over five years
– one tree for every child under 16 in the UK
Phenology – The study of recurring natural events.
Comparing records over the years with data about weather
conditions helps our understanding of how wildlife is affected
by a changing climate. Our phenology project, called Nature’s
Calendar, involves thousands of people in our springwatch and
autumnwatch surveys.
Biodiversity – The variety of plant and animal species in
a natural habitat.
Advocacy – In this context, it refers to when the Woodland
Trust offers advice to others or speaks out on their behalf in
order to benefit native woods or trees.
GIS – Geographical information systems
 10 email: volunteers@woodlandtrust.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.

Keeping fit the woodland way

Mandy Hillier talks to the Friends of Swan Wood in Essex
T he Friends of Swan Wood are a small band of Trust volunteers who
may be retired from paid work but are brimming with hands-on energy
and verve when it comes to trees and their environment.

Most of the half dozen members had desk jobs but now they have quit
their regular lifelong work as they want to get their hands dirty with
bow saws, loppers and spades.

Group organiser, Clifford Mullett, a retired accountant, explained: ‘It

started as fundraising for the Trust in 1999 but we found a lot of
interest in practical work and our first job was to prepare and help
plant 1,400 trees.’
The Friends of Swan Wood, left to right, Neil Macalister, Clifford Mullett,
Swan Wood Mike Briggs and Paul Hudson
WTPL/Keith Huggett

The Friends look after Swan and Cygnet Woods,

an ancient semi-natural woodland near the village
of Stock, just south of Chelmsford. The 13 hectare
(32 acres) Swan Wood was bought by the Trust
after a fundraising appeal in 1989. A further
8 hectares (20 acres) was bought in 2000 and new
planting was completed and named Cygnet Wood.

Pond clearance and creation, coppicing, path

maintenance and clearing fallen timber are the Friends’
regular tasks and they are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the
wood for the Trust. Their rewards? Exercise, a
spectacular woodland environment and, in the autumn,
handfuls of nuts from the sweet chestnut trees.

Let your garden run wild

Increasingly, wildlife is being sent packing from gardens by
modern conveniences like decking, paving or, simply,
extreme tidiness. And yet gardens are tremendously
important for wildlife. They cover around a quarter of the
land surface in our towns and cities and act as a ‘food
supermarket’ for visiting and breeding birds and mammals.
The Woodland Trust has joined The Forum for Gardening
with Wildlife in Mind, led by Natural England. The Forum has
produced Let our gardens live! A manifesto for gardens,
people and nature.
As well as raising awareness of the threats faced by garden
wildlife, it contains advice on what to do – and what not to
do – in your garden and lists organisations that can help
you keep your garden wildlife friendly.
www.naturalengland.org.uk/campaigns/breathingplaces/
manifesto.htm

Dig in
WTPL/Niall Benvie
This year’s tree
planting season is already
underway with over 100
events planned all over
the UK. For most of
these events, we would
like to encourage as
many people as possible to come along. Please look
on our website for details of events near you. We hope
you can join us and encourage others to as well.
www.treeforall.org.uk
In my experience
We asked Northern region Volunteer of the Year,
Vanessa Champion, for her advice to others thinking
of volunteering.
Like so many things in life, you will get out
of this what you put into it. Key things I
have learnt are:
Be open to new opportunities and
experiences. The volunteers team and your
woodland officer can offer all sorts of activities.
Do something you haven’t tried before. It’s a great
way to acquire new skills and knowledge. And, in
my experience with the Woodland Trust, one thing
leads to another…
Try to be self-reliant and self-motivating.
Woodland officers are really appreciative of the
work that volunteers do but they are busy people
and need us to be able to get on with things
without constant support.
Be prepared to take a long view.
Developments in woods happen slowly. I came to
the Trust volunteering with a ‘hurry along’ attitude
inherited from years of being in a job where
change and progress were daily targets. It has
taken some time to calm down, slow down and
take a more measured view of change. It is a bit
painful to realise I won’t live see the Great Knott
Wood of fifty years hence but focusing on the tiny
incremental shifts that are already happening gives
me much satisfaction.
See right for more about Vanessa.
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 11
CLOSE UP
Name:
Vanessa Champion
Location:
Finsthwaite, South Cumbria
Volunteer role:
Ancient Tree Verifier for Cumbria
West (see page 12)
I’ve also enjoyed lots of other activities including:
• monitoring plant species in a patch of ancient meadow
• trialling some of the Woodland Archaeology materials for the
Woodland Heritage Champions Project
• walking my local Trust wood a couple of times a week and
keeping a journal of my observations and discoveries
• getting local people interested in the wood by offering guided
walks as a result of which we have set up an informal
investigation group
• learning lots about woods by meeting and talking with people
who have experience – coppice craft specialists, members of
local naturalist, wildlife associations and Jackie Dunne, our
woodland officer.
I chose to help the Woodland Trust because… it kindly bought
the wood across the field from my house – Great Knott.
The Trust worked to get local interest in and support for
purchasing this neglected ancient wood and I was impressed by the
degree of consultation, sharing and involvement invited.
The part of the role I enjoy most is… the fascinating new
learning I am getting from my involvement in these diverse
activities.
Three years ago woods were places I walked through for exercise
and, more often than not, to process one of the knotty problems
of working life. I’d arrive back home having filled my lungs, raised
my heart rate, solved my problem – but not seen a single thing
along the way, including the woods.
Nowadays I set off for a woodland walk and become totally
immersed in all the detail and richness of the environment that my
new learning helps me to see.
The woods look best in… late winter, just as the first stirrings of
spring are in the air. Woods without leaves are beautiful,
architectural places. The bare bones of the trees are visible and the
awesome nature of the structure and engineering of trees is
emphasised. Colin Tudge’s book The Secret Life of Trees caused me
to see trees in this new light and I marvel at these truly
remarkable organisms.
Winter woods also offer other revelations. The archaeology of the
wood suddenly becomes much more visible when not cloaked by
vegetation. Pitsteads, the foundations of old wood workers’ huts,
earthworks, potash pits, walls and gateways are more readily
distinguished and provide telling reminders of how the social and
economic role of the woods shaped how they are now.
 12 email: volunteers@woodlandtrust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111

ANCIENT TREES
We’ve teamed up with the Ancient Tree Forum to celebrate
ancient trees and do all we can to conserve them.
Read here about what’s happening and then why not join the discussion forum by
logging onto www.ancient-tree-forum.org.uk or www.AncientTreeHunt.org.uk
Page edited by Phil Marshall

Rupert Bear ® © Entertainment Rights Distribution Limited/Express Newspapers 2007

The bear facts Facts and fables
By now, you’ll surely have read or heard

Conrad Shilton
The ancient trees
about the Ancient Tree Hunt, which has
being mapped by our
been capturing the attention, not just of
volunteer hunters and
tree-lovers right across the UK, but also of
verifiers are not only
the media – not to mention a certain bear in
national treasures but
checked trousers!
they also tell tales from
Yes, Rupert was one of a number of centuries gone by.
celebrities to give their time to help promote the hunt.
Take the Law Day Oak
And thanks to the fantastic work of volunteer ancient tree in Bonnington, Kent. The
hunters across the UK, thousands of ancient trees have now facts about this
been mapped and added to the database. wonderful ancient tree
were verified back in

The verified facts July. It’s a splendid

pedunculate oak with a
With a team of around 100 trained verifiers checking all the girth of some 7.82 metres. But what of its name and history?
records being submitted by our intrepid volunteer ancient tree Well, this tree was once the place where local courts
hunters, the map is really taking shape. convened to hear pleas, so that seems to explain its name.
Perhaps more intriguing though are testimonies to the
This hard-working team of verifiers are not only ensuring that
superstitions held by local people centuries ago in connection
the database is up-to-date and accurate, but they’re also
with this tree. Lovers exchanged vows here, believing it had
helping to develop new guidelines to help our volunteer
sacred powers and childless women also collected its leaves at
hunters identify different species of ancient trees.
night to make potions, believing it had medicinal powers.
The verifiers are proving to be great ambassadors for the
Such facts – or fables – about the history of our wonderful
Ancient Tree Hunt as well, attending events like the
ancient trees are also an important part of our natural
Community Woodland Network Conference (see opposite)
heritage. The Ancient Tree Hunt is ensuring that not only are
and spreading the word by demonstrating both their expertise
our ancient trees being preserved but their tales are too –
and their enthusiasm.
happily ever after!
WTPL/Ted Green

Facts at your
finger-tips
To see how you can support the hunt, to check out the latest
additions or to read some fascinating facts – or fables – about
our oldest trees, visit www.AncientTreeHunt.org.uk
 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 13

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
Conference has continental flavour
Over 130 delegates came to the Community in Sweden and French forestry issues. For the benefit
Woodland Network Conference back in July. Held at of those who couldn’t make it, we have published
Stoke Rochford Hall in Lincolnshire, the mix of debate, selected highlights from Sian Thomas’s workshop
exhibits, information sharing and, of course, Making the most of promoting your group’s events and
networking, made for a lively event. activities (see below). A full post conference report is
Delegates were enlightened by a variety of seminars available on the CWN website.
ranging from the BBC’s Springwatch to ancient trees www.yourwoods.org.uk

How to hit the headlines

These few key tips can help your group
secure local media coverage for your events
and activities. A well targeted news release is
essential. Here’s your checklist for writing one
that gets results.

Think of your audience. Write for them, and

always ask yourself ‘What’s in this for them?’.

Be sure to cover who, what, why, where, when Targeting media contacts
and how.
Knowing who your local media contacts are in the area
The title should sum up exactly your message. will give you a big advantage.

The first paragraph is all important to grab a busy
journalist’s attention. Give the bones of the story
here. Avoid superlatives and flowery adjectives and
keep sentences short. Use the present tense to
give your message greater immediacy.
Keep your news release to a maximum of two
A4 pages. Editor’s notes are useful for giving key
background information.
Use double or one and a half spacing.
Avoid jargon and technical terms.
If you are sending your news release by email, do
not send it as an attachment. Paste it into the body
of the email.
Give accurate contact details and make sure that they
are not just covering Monday to Friday, nine to five.
Timing is important. Get to know the deadlines of your
local media contacts, particularly for weekly papers.
A picture tells a story
Have good quality high resolution images ready to go
with the story if appropriate.
If you can ask the media to come along and take their own
images then invite them with a photo call notice, which
includes details of the timing and location of your event.
Finally, remember that more people get their news from
local and regional newspapers or regional TV and radio
than from the nationals, so if you can tailor your activity
to the reader or listener you stand a very good chance
of being featured.
Sian Thomas is PR manager for the Woodland Trust. For news release
examples, go to www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Networking at Nanteos
In October, CWN members in Wales joined the Nanteos Woodland Group in Llanfarian near Aberystwyth for their own
conference. They enjoyed various speakers and exhibits as well as a visit to Nanteos Wood where a range of woodland management
techniques and community involvement initiatives were shared.
14 email: volunteers@woodlandtrust.org.uk
F R E Q U E N T LY A S K E D
QUESTIONS
Q I’d like to promote
the Woodland Trust with
displays and stalls at local
galas, events and shows in
my area. Is this possible and
helpful?
Q I went to a seed
gathering day sometime
ago. I planted the seeds at
home and now have some
saplings. What would you
recommend I do with them
next?
tel: 01476 581111
A We really do appreciate volunteers promoting and raising awareness about the
Trust’s work. But, to make the best use of our limited resources, we usually focus
efforts on events that directly contribute to our organisation’s objectives.
For example, where we are running an appeal to save a local wood, buying land to
create new areas of woodland, or simply using the opportunity to promote a nearby
Woodland Trust wood, having a presence at appropriate events in that location is an
ideal opportunity to raise awareness of the Trust’s work. In these cases, staff often
utilise local volunteer support. There are also occasions where we attend high profile
events, some with partner organisations and companies who support us.
It’s worth remembering that our supporters expect (quite rightly) that we measure our
activities by their contribution to our core mission. Decisions on whether to put
resources in the direction of any one event are carefully considered by the department
responsible for the area of business most closely related to the event’s purpose.
If you would like to check whether an event is appropriate for formal Woodland Trust
presence, please contact the volunteers team and we will forward your query to the
appropriate team.
A Good question. You could:
1. Have a look on the Tree For All website and see if there is a community tree
planting event coming up near you. Give them a call and ask if you can bring
your trees along. www.treeforall.org.uk/GetDigging
2. Check the Tree Council’s website as they have a list of national events too.
www.treecouncil.org.uk
3. Ask your local authority tree officer if they have a suitable site for planting.
4. Contact your local community forest, if you live in a forest area.
www.communityforest.org.uk
5. Look at the list of groups on the Community Woodland Network website and if
there is a group nearby you could find out if they are holding a planting event.
www.yourwoods.org.uk
6. Consider planting it in your own garden, if the tree is a suitable species and you
have the space.
 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 15

VO L U N T E E R
O P P O RT U N I T I E S
Here is another selection of volunteer opportunities that we hope will interest you.
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.woodlandtrust.org.uk/getinvolved

Nature’s Calendar around the simple online database and Other opportunities
a few hours to spare a week between
online administrators January and May.
in this newsletter
Homebased or Grantham, Lincolnshire Web testers
UK-wide page 2
Can you help us to keep the records of our Photo library assistant
phenology project, Nature’s Calendar (see Grantham,
Lincolnshire page 3
page 9), up to date and accurate? We are
Speakers
looking for several volunteers to help us UK-wide page 4
by entering records from paper Christmas card recycling
recording forms that have been scheme coordinators
UK-wide page 11
sent in. All you need is broadband
Ancient tree hunters
internet access, the ability to find your way UK-wide page 12

Ground Flora with an ID book you may be your interest and we will let

Surveyors
able to help. It is unlikely that
any training or on-site
support will be available so
Norfolk and Suffolk
you would need to be self
developing well. The site
manager has begun to identify
various opportunities for
volunteers to get involved
both on and off
you know about the planned
activities as they become
available.

WTPL/Robert MacLeod
Our sites in Norfolk and motivated. site. They range
Suffolk need species lists from helping in the
creating or updating. If you Various roles fruit field,
live near any of our sites in
the area this offers a good
at Merry Hill hedgelaying and
other conservation
opportunity to improve your Hertfordshire
tasks, to more
skills. If you have some flora The Merry Hill woodland desk based
identification skills or the creation site at Bushey is now activities such as
patience to spend some time ten years old and is research. Register

We welcome contributions to this newsletter.

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

email: newslettereditor@woodlandtrust.org.uk

post: Sallyanne Flemons, Editor, the Volunteer Newsletter,

The Woodland Trust, Autumn Park, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6LL
 16 email: volunteers@woodlandtrust.org.uk tel: 01476 581111

N E W S & C O N TAC T S
On a high The terror by night!
A huge thank you to Following our appeal for memories of the 1987 storm, we
all those who helped received this evocative poem from Roger Jamieson of Essex.
us raise the funds to Roger is a member of the Swan Wood group, profiled on
buy Brede High page 10.
Woods in East Roaring and snarling the beast slips its leash,
Sussex. The campaign a maelstrom of fury showing its teeth.
brought in over £1 A tempest of evil howls in the blackness,
million thanks, in
the scream of the storm, a rushing express!

part, to volunteers’ Gale shrieking giants duel the wind dancing,

efforts. Situated within the High Weald Area of Outstanding arms waving, writhing, wildly prancing.
Natural Beauty and covering 262 hectares (647 acres), these Thrashing wild tangos in the lurid light,
magnificent woods will now be our largest site in England.
a frenzy of death in an unending night!

The weakest must die only the strongest will live,

Colin Varndell

in a battle of titans no quarter they give.

Great oaks quake against outrageous odds,
frail saplings expire uprooting their sods!

A judgement, a tragedy in quivering sap,

each bough breaks with a resounding snap.
Trees we have loved now fall asunder,
stout trunks crashing with ear splitting thunder!

The beast tears the rooftops scattering the slate,

wrecking havoc abroad with malicious hate.
In the thin light of dawn the terror spent,
flees from its havoc, the battlefield rent!

Congratulations Trees litter the streets, highways are blocked,

telephones silent, railways are stopped.
Power lines down, man’s world is shaken,
Brookings Down Wood Management Group has won a bronze
without God’s grace we are surely forsaken!
medal in the Community Woodland category of the Devon
County Agricultural Association’s Woodland Competition.

The credits
Getting in touch Thanks to the following volunteers who have helped
with this issue:
The Woodland Trust
Bennet Aldous, Mandy Hillier,
Autumn Park, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6LL cartoonist feature writer
Tel: 01476 581111 Kate Atkin, Phil Marshall,
BT Textdirect: 18001 01476 581135 feature writer ancient tree editor
Lynda Brown, Frances Nichols,
email: volunteers@woodlandtrust.org.uk feature writer proofreader
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/getinvolved Andi Clevely, Carole Sutton,
feature writer picture researcher

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