VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
As a volunteer for the Woodland Trust, you
won’t need any persuading that woods are
pretty important places. Of course they are
and yet some new research, the first study
of its kind in the UK, has shown that the
woodland cover in this country is simply not
enough to meet our social needs.
At the end of 2004, the Trust published an
important document called Space for People. In it,
we revealed eye-opening new evidence which
states an extremely strong case for creating more
woods and improving access to existing woods,
crucially, in places where people can gain maximum
benefit from them. It makes interesting reading.
Did you know for example, that woodland
contributes to 11 out of 15 of the Government’s
own quality of life indicators?
Woods and trees improve our health by
encouraging exercise and reducing stress. They
improve air quality, provide shade, encourage
learning and recreation, and can even increase
property values.
Nick Collinson, who
led on the research
explains;“Location is
everything. Many of
the social benefits
which woods provide are
dependent on them being located close to people.
Our research shows that people value woods and
enjoy visiting them.We now know how far people
are prepared to travel to woods, and what they
want from them when they get there.”
So what are we doing about it? We have developed
Spring 2005
Newsletter for the Woodland Trust volunteers www.woodland-trust.org.uk/getinvolveded in England No. 1982873
Making spacefor people
INSIDE
News
e-woods, threatened woods,
BBC Springwatch and
more… pages 2 & 16
Phenology
Why 11,000 recorders are
watching the clock page 3
Speaker’s bulletin page 4
Community Woodland
Network page 5
In the woods
News and views for
people involved in the
woods page 6
Viewfinder
A new scheme for keen
photographers page 7
Millions and millions
The low down on
our biggest campaign
ever page 8
Out of the woods
How people are making a
difference without leaving
their desks page 10
Ancient trees page 12
In business
Could working with
companies work for
you? page 13
Frequently asked
questions
How form filling
saves woods page 14
Volunteer
opportunities page 15
story continued on page 10
WTPL/Nick Spurling
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 2
The Government has declared 2005 the Year
of the Volunteer and it’s only right that your
crucial activities should gain such
recognition.And what better time for the
Woodland Trust to be producing its first ever
newsletter for all its volunteers?
We have done our best to make it as
informative and compelling as we can. But it
would really help if you can take a few minutes
to fill out the short survey that came with
this newsletter and tell us if we’ve got it right.
Some of our volunteer networks already had
their own newsletter that is now
incorporated into this one. In doing so we
have saved costs that can be redirected into
caring for woods. It means we can also
provide you with even more information
than you had before.
In time, it would be fantastic if most of the
content was generated by volunteers.We
know the talent and interest is out there. Just
let us know where!
In the meantime, enjoy, be inspired and we
look forward to hearing from you.
The Volunteer Team
PS.Thank you for all you do as a volunteer.
The UK’s woods are benefiting immeasurably.
2 email: [email protected] tel: 01476 581111
NEWSIS YOUR WOOD AN E-WOOD?
Jon Parsons, e-communications manager
We have over 1,000 woods and almost all are featured on our website.
I reckon there are a great many pages out there in cyberspace that
could tell people even more about these fabulous woods.
If you have created a website about a Woodland Trust wood near or
dear to you, then please drop us an email and, if it’s appropriate we will
gladly create a link from the details about the wood on our main site,
to your site. Or if you know there is a site run by another person or
organisation that has information on it about a Trust wood please let us
know that too. If there isn’t already a link, we will make one. Thanks.
THREATENED WOODS –what can you do?
by Graham Bradleynational planning casework officer
Ancient woodland is our richest
wildlife habitat and yet there is very
little of it about. Did you know that
in the UK, only 14 per cent of it is
protected by law? Far too
frequently it comes under threat
from development, misuse or abuse.
But you can take action. If you hear
of an ancient wood under threat you
can let me know via www.woodsunderthreat.info or telephone 01476 581102.
If you’d like to help us save ancient woods on an ongoing basis, either by
campaigning or by factfinding we’d like to hear from you. A little of your time
could ultimately save one of nature’s most precious, irreplaceable assets.
Ancient woods contain no fewer than 78 threatened species,more than any other type of natural habitat in the UK.
New volunteers to lead the TrustVolunteers are crucial to the success of the Woodland Trust in so many ways but did
you know that the trustees that guide the organisation are themselves volunteers?
We are really pleased to welcome two more trustees onto our board. Dr Nicola
Nicholls from London, has worked in the financial services industry for 19 years.
Professor Michael B Usher of Perthshire was previously Chief Scientist of Scottish
Natural Heritage and is also a trustee of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh.
Opportunities on our board are advertised on: www.woodland-trust.org.uk/getinvolved
WELCOME
From top to bottom: Julie Beals, CarlHughes, Karen Lifford and Merle Dekanski
WT
PL/S
tuar
t H
andl
ey
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 3
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 3
PHENOLOGYThe Woodland Trust
has been running
the UK Phenology
Network with the
Centre for Ecology
and Hydrology for four years.We
are gathering crucial information
about how climate change is
affecting UK wildlife with the help
of over 11,000 recorders.
Phenology is the study of the times of
recurring natural phenomena especially in
relation to climate. Like recording hearing
the first cuckoo or seeing the first
blackthorn blossom.This can then be
compared with other records.
Anyone can become a phenology
recorder and the more records we have
the more meaningful the results become.
We are also always looking for good
quality photographs that will help others
to identify species and which may
provide evidence. Historical phenological
records are extremely
important too (see
page 11) and if you
could help with
this fascinating
area of research, we’d
like to hear from
you.
In this issue we’re
focusing on Nature
Detectives, our new
initiative that aims to
get children involved in phenology.
There’s a great new website at
www.naturedetectives.org.uk
To find out more about phenology and
how you can get involved,visit
www.phenology.org.uk or contact the
volunteers team.
looking out forladybirdsThis spring we’re trying to
get as many children as
possible to tell us when
they see their first ladybird.
An average seven spot
ladybird eats
more than
5,000 aphids in
its year long life
so, if you’re a
gardener, you might want
to spread the word. The
more we know about the
ladybird, the more we can
do to look after it. Visit
www.naturedetectives.org.uk
The naturedetectives and meUntil I joined the conservation group at college, I was going to be a speech
therapist.After working with the group, I wanted to save the world. When my
family came along, my enthusiasm for nature conservation grew again.A walk
with the dogs was a chance to show the children how to identify grasses, or watch
water boatmen in the pond.
When I became a governor at my children’s school, I realised that very few children had the
opportunity to learn about the detail of the environment around them.We are a rural
community, and yet few can tell the difference between Yorkshire fog and meadow grass, or
identify an ash twig in winter.
A chance conversation with an old colleague from the Woodland Trust gave me the idea to start
an after school club.This wasn’t easy. All the child protection issues had to be covered. But with
the help of an expert friend and another parent, I started Thriplow School Nature Detectives.
We have the support of the local farmers who let us use their land to investigate ponds, hedges,
meadows and woodland.The Wildlife Trust lets us use the small, orchid rich reserve in the
village. I was amazed to find that before Nature Detectives many of the parents had never
visited this incredible resource on their doorstep.To see them wonder at this habitat was
worth setting the whole thing up for alone.
Nature Detectives offers an alternative way for children to learn outside of the classroom. I
know that even children who normally exhibit ‘challenging behaviour’ in school are enthused
by the practical work we do.
As I work out the programme of activities for summer term I am amazed by the response.The
local farmers have contacted me asking when we would like to go back.The Botanic Gardens
have invited us again and we’ve got trips pencilled in to the local RSPB reserve.The children are
already excited and the parents want to know dates so that they can come along too. I had
better get on with it!
by Lisa Turner
Mar
gare
t Ba
rton
Lisa
Tur
ner
Blac
kbir
d:M
arga
ret
Bart
on;P
eaco
ck b
utte
rfly
:Pet
er P
aice
;Lad
ybir
d:M
arga
ret
Bart
on
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 4
SPEAKERS’ BULLETINThe Woodland Trust has a network of nearly 90voluntary speakers all over the UK have aninvaluable role spreading the word about the Trust’s work.
To find out more about becoming a speaker or if youknow of an organisation or group that might like tobook a presentation, contact: Nick Sandford on01476 581135 or email [email protected]
4 email: [email protected] tel: 01476 581111
In my years as co-ordinator of our voluntary
speaker scheme, I had never actually done a
talk myself, until now. I happened to handle
an enquiry from a National Trust group that
holds meetings at a URC church just half a
mile from where I live. So I thought why not
have a go at it myself?
The talk itself went quite well but, as many
speakers have told me in the past, it’s the little
things that cause the problems. Like attempting
to carry a (supposedly) portable slide
projector and bulging bag of leaflets on a train.
When I got to the hall, the projector table had
been positioned in the second row of the
audience and the cord to my slide changer
was too short. Fortunately, they had a
projector exactly like mine with a longer lead.
So I started my talk.They switched off all the
lights, plunging the room into total darkness.
Luckily, I remembered a tip I had been given
by one our speakers and had taken a torch,
so at least I could refer to my notes.
After a break, I did a second mini-presentation
on phenology, which went down very well.They
took quite a few leaflets but there were lots
left over and I remembered I still had to carry
them home, together with the projector…
But I got some really positive feedback after
the talk, and a £30 donation, so it all seemed
worthwhile in the end.
Leads, lights and my first talkby Nick Sandford
voluntary speakers co-ordinator
New slidesJust a reminder that we have a set of slides available for amini-presentation on Nature’s Calendar (phenology) (seepage 3). They will also work as an add-on to yourmain talk. Contact Nick, if you would like one.
If the idea proves popular, we may developother mini-presentations such as on theTree For All campaign (see page 8).
FREE TRAININGRobert Alan-Haven is a professional trainer who has
worked with senior executives in industry and
commerce. Some of you will have enjoyed his
stimulating presentation at the Speaker’s Forum in
Grantham last September. He has kindly agreed to
volunteer his services to the Woodland Trust.
Robert is offering coaching to small groups of
voluntary speakers to help them give more effective
talks. If this is something you might be interested in,
please let Nick know. If we get interest from several
people in one area of the country, we will look to set
something up.
Have voice, will travelSome of our voluntary speakers are able to give talks
well away from their home area. For example,Tom Cole
in Brighton has friends all over the country and has
done talks for us in places as far apart as Lancashire and
Norfolk. John Greaves from North Yorkshire has given
talks in the Blackpool area, Peter and Rosemary Dodd
from Newcastle have been across into Cumbria and
Cameron Low from Glasgow has been to many distant
parts of Scotland.
If you have links with another part of the country and
would like to give talks there, please let us know. It may
help us to respond to requests in areas where we do not
have many speakers.
And, if you come across anyone who you think
would make a good speaker for the Woodland
Trust, why not suggest that they contact us?
We are always on the look out for new talent.
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 5
COMMUNITY WOODLAND NETWORK
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 5
Money isn’t everything,but, when you’ve got awood to run, it sure helps.The CommunityWoodland Networkannually provides grantsto groups to spend ontheir ongoing activities.
Over the past three yearsit has supported over 50groups and allocated morethan £85,000 in grantsupport. Groups havespent it on training, newtools and events designedto attract new members.If you’d like to know more,get in touch (see above).
The CWN conference is a fantastic chance to meet othergroups, share knowledge, learn a little and enjoy the companyof like minded people. Network members may already have
heard that the conference scheduled for March has beenpostponed due to a fire at the venue. Now it will be held inJune or July.These conferences are held every two years andall Groups are invited.We hope you can make it.
The Community Woodland Network (CWN)supports community groups that are managingwoodland or creating new woods.
It offers advice, networking opportunities andfunding.To find out more, call 01476 581155 orvisit www.yourwoods.org.uk
CWN IN ACTION
Conference call – update
Brookings Down,Noss Mayo, South DevonAt least two centuries old, Brookings DownWood lies 10 miles from Plymouth, on the edgeof the small village of Noss Mayo.When the landcame up for sale, a group of local people couldn’twait to take it off the hands of the seller, aspeculative builder whose bids to secure planningpermission had thankfully proved fruitless.
As the new millennium dawned in January 2000, the purchase
was completed and the local group decided that linking in with
the Woodland Trust’s
Community Woodland
Network would really
boost their efforts to
care for and fund the
wood. Having raised
£18,000 to buy it, the
group then gave it to the
Trust, drawing upon its
ample experience as a
landowner.The volunteers
then leased the wood
back from the Trust.
Since then, with a lot of hard work by an enthusiastic group of
around 30 volunteers, Brookings Down Wood has gone from
strength to strength.They raised a further £20,000, from
Friends of BDW and various other sources including a £2,000
CWN grant.With it, they bought insurance, tools and trees,
equipping them to clear 2.5
acres of suffocating laurel, put
up bird boxes and planted
about 700 native saplings.
Jeremy Spooner, chairman for
the group, is modest about their considerable efforts but he is
obviously proud and very clear on why they do it. “We really
feel like we’re making a difference.” he says.
And they really are. Now wildlife in the wood is thriving with
bluebells and red campion peppered around the many
varieties of native tree including ash, oak and holly. It’s time for
the group to let nature take its course for a while. But they
are not complacent.This year, they are putting up an
information board and making a new entrance as a way of
encouraging others to come and see this natural asset that’s
well worth showing off.
Jere
my
Spoo
ner
Chr
is W
oodd
-Wal
ker
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 6
6 email: [email protected] tel: 01476 581111
IN THE WOODSWe have nearly 700 people volunteering in our woods, doing practical tasks, running
events, surveying and generally taking good care of these special places. If you would like to write a piece about your patch, contact the volunteers team.
Join the hunt for dormicein the Wye Valley
by Dr Stefan BodnarBiodiversity officer, Birmingham City council
With its adorable looks it’s easy to see the appeal
of the dormouse. But sadly, in the 20th century,
its numbers fell dramatically as its favoured habitat
began to disappear.
Crucially, we have discovered a key stronghold for the animal
in the Wye Valley where it is inhabiting both coniferous and
deciduous woodland. Over the past few years, the Woodland
Trust has taken on the task of recording and monitoring its
presence in the woods here.
As the dormouse is a protected species, licences are needed
to survey it. So in October, we ran a very successful training
event. Rob McKenzie was one of the team who volunteered.
“We had an incredible day out with the dormice of
the Wye Valley.” he said.“I learned a lot
about the little creatures and their habitat.”
This summer we are looking for more volunteers to help us
check the specially constructed dormouse boxes for signs,
nests and the animals themselves.
If you would like to join us for three survey training days
between July and October 2005 let us know.
My patch by Peter Lyons, Kilcooley Wood, Bangor
It all started with a visit to the Woodland Trust
website. I found they needed a Volunteer Warden to
patrol the newly created Kilcooley wood on a regular
basis. I thought this would be a good way to help in a
practical manner, so I volunteered.
I’ve been patrolling since May 2003; it’s not an onerous task, in
fact it’s a very rewarding one. During my visits I’ve been
pleasantly surprised. In June I saw meadow brown butterflies
in their hundreds, while parts of the wood were alive with
orchids. The August visit saw more types of butterfly and a
startlingly bright common blue damselfly.
Since I started, there have
been two instances of
damage to young trees, but all in all Kilcooley Wood, alongside
the busy Rathgael Road and close to a thriving centre of
population, is a wonderful oasis for wildlife. I hope by
reporting each month that I can help the Woodland Trust to
develop it into a wood that will draw visitors from afar to see
the natural diversity that we have on our doorstep.
If you would like further information on woodland based
volunteer opportunities in Northern Ireland, please contact
the volunteers team.
Dor
mou
se:W
TPL
/Ken
neth
Wat
kins
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 7
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 7
Portmoak group braves the elements
Sunday 20th November 2004 was not the
brightest of days.The temperature hovered
just above freezing and sleet and drizzle
took turns to float down through the fog.
But still 150 trees were planted at
Kilmagad Wood.
Situated between the villages of Kinesswood and
Scotlandwell, Kilmagad Wood is just 30 miles from
Edinburgh. Being so close to major population
centres means that the work carried out by the
enthusiastic volunteers that form Portmoak
Community Group can be appreciated by many.
It was the Group that organised this, an event to
launch Tree For All in Scotland, the Trust’s biggest
ever tree planting campaign. Several school
children were included in the 15 people who
turned out to plant native oak, ash, birch and
rowan.They were the first of many thousands of
school children in Scotland who will plant and
enjoy trees because of the Tree For All campaign
– come rain or shine.
See pages 8 and 9 for more about Tree For All.
i e w f i n d e r
An eye for a good picture? Then the Woodland Trust needs you . . .
Inspired by nature . . .captured by you
by Deborah Morris, information manager
Have you ever seen an image of
nature that made you wish you
were out there soaking it all
in? Or that inspired you so
much that you wondered
why there isn’t more like it
and made you want to
protect it?
Well these are the types of
images that the Woodland Trust
uses to help promote the work that it
does.Their uses range from web to presentations, leaflets to funding bids.
We often hear people telling us
that ‘a picture says a thousand
words’ and it is so true. More and
more images are used to get
across an important message in a
way that will stick in people’s
minds and the Woodland Trust
makes full use of this method on a
daily basis.
So could you help provide these types of images?
If the answer is yes, then the Woodland
Trust’s Volunteer Photographer’s
Scheme is for you. All that is needed is a
suitable camera, the knowledge to use
it well, a keen eye for an image and a
willingness to help.
Find our more by either contacting the
volunteers team or going to the website
www.woodland-trust.org.uk/woods
Keen photographer? see also page 16
for details of an exciting competition.
WT
PL/R
oy B
arlo
w
WT
PL/P
am P
age
WT
PL/P
am P
age
WTPL/Keit
h Hugge
tt
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 8
Planting trees is a truly
inspirational experience.“I felt
very proud that I was helping
the world bring oxygen…I liked
the tree planting and the
squelching mud.” said one
young Tree For All planter.“I
will always remember it.” said
another. It is a supremely
optimistic act.
Already,Tree For All
is well underway
and thousands of
trees have been
planted. But now it’s
spring.We can’t
plant trees again until the autumn so what happens in between?
“Tree For All was never meant to be just about planting trees,”
says Andy Beer campaign manager.“This act is simply a starting
point which will help children to build an appreciation of the
landscape as a
whole, to nurture
an attachment to
the natural world.
We don’t want
them to plant a
tree and then just
forget about it.”
Of course, once a
tree has been
planted, it needs
looking after too.
We have teamed
up with the Tree
Council to provide
information about how to care for young trees once they are
planted.We will also be holding an exciting range of events as
part of a cultural festival this summer.All year round we will
be shouting about Tree For All, making news and building
enthusiasm so that millions of people know about it and feel
compelled to get involved.
As a supporter of the Woodland
Trust, we really hope we can
count on you to add to
our voice. On the left
you will see some
suggestions on ways
you can help.This is
a vital opportunity
to really make a
difference. Please
take it.
Northern Ireland, 8 per cent in
England, 14 per cent in Wales
and 17 per cent in Scotland.And
all the time, the spectre of
climate change looms large.
This makes depressing reading
but there is something positive
we can do, and that’s where Tree
For All comes in.We are holding
events nationwide to get children planting and working with a
great variety of partners to make it happen from the Guide
movement, to Barnardo’s to big companies and schools. It’s
not just in Trust woods either (although we’re taking every
opportunity we can to plant in places where the biodiversity
benefits are greatest).Trees are being planted in school
grounds, business centres, people’s gardens and woods owned
publicly and privately.
You may have already heard about Tree For All. But
we make no apologies for writing about it again here.
It’s our biggest campaign ever, with ambitions that
have serious implications for the future of the UK’s
woods.As a volunteer, we
would like to invite you
to grasp the opportunity
to be part of it. Now’s
your chance to play a key
role in making it the
success it needs to be.
Let’s cut to the chase. Over
the next five years, the
Woodland Trust intends to
get one million children
involved in planting 12 million
trees – that’s one tree for
every child in the UK.As a supporter of the Trust, you’ll
know how important this is. But just in case you need
convincing, here’s why.
We know that children are
growing up in an
environment in which they
are increasingly disconnected
with nature as the MORI
research shows. More
research shows that children
in the UK spend more time
watching TV and are less
active than anywhere else in Europe.
Yet now we are facing a future where our native woods are
more threatened than ever before. Frighteningly we are one of
the least wooded countries in Europe. Finland has over 60 per
cent cover. Compare this with a measly 6 per cent in
8 email: [email protected] tel: 01476 581111 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 9
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
Research by MORI
shows that 39 per
cent of 15-24 year
olds claim they
“don’t have time
to be green.”
What you can doSpread the word by telling friends and family about Tree for All.
Plant native trees and shrubs in your garden or give them as presents to others.Visit www.native-tree-shop.com
Organise a local tree planting event – we offer guidance and a small grant for community events
Get your local school involved. More than 2,000 schools have already signed up to plant trees in their grounds and we
have more free trees available for 2005.
Plant an e-tree on the website.
Be seen. Display the sticker sent to all members. If you haven’t got one contact us.
Get digging. Come along to a planting event and encourage any children you know to come too (with parental
permission of course).
You can get in touch with us or visit the website for information about where to get saplings, how to plant themand how to care for them afterwards (see below).
Thank you
To get more detailed information about local Tree For All events and ways to get involved, visit www.treeforall.org.uk or call 01476 581155
“The Tree For All campaign is the Woodland Trust
in a cheerful mood . . . looking forward with hope.”Clive Anderson,Woodland Trust President
“At its heart this campaign is about muddy boots and hands. It’s
about real, simple, honest action . . . children planting trees.”Jonathan Dimbleby
“Every child should havethe chance to hear birdssing. Every child shouldhave the chance to feelthe breeze blowingthrough the trees.Tree For All can makethat happen.Tree For Allcan help children to careabout their world, theirfuture. Help them tocare. Help them to planta tree.”
Gail Porter
WT
PL/ V
icto
r de
Jesu
s
WT
PL/
Mat
t Li
mb
WT
PL/
Mat
t Li
mb
WT
PL/
Mat
t Li
mb
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 11:03 am Page 9
Planting trees is a truly
inspirational experience.“I felt
very proud that I was helping
the world bring oxygen…I liked
the tree planting and the
squelching mud.” said one
young Tree For All planter.“I
will always remember it.” said
another. It is a supremely
optimistic act.
Already,Tree For All
is well underway
and thousands of
trees have been
planted. But now it’s
spring.We can’t
plant trees again until the autumn so what happens in between?
“Tree For All was never meant to be just about planting trees,”
says Andy Beer campaign manager.“This act is simply a starting
point which will help children to build an appreciation of the
landscape as a
whole, to nurture
an attachment to
the natural world.
We don’t want
them to plant a
tree and then just
forget about it.”
Of course, once a
tree has been
planted, it needs
looking after too.
We have teamed
up with the Tree
Council to provide
information about how to care for young trees once they are
planted.We will also be holding an exciting range of events as
part of a cultural festival this summer.All year round we will
be shouting about Tree For All, making news and building
enthusiasm so that millions of people know about it and feel
compelled to get involved.
As a supporter of the Woodland
Trust, we really hope we can
count on you to add to
our voice. On the left
you will see some
suggestions on ways
you can help.This is
a vital opportunity
to really make a
difference. Please
take it.
Northern Ireland, 8 per cent in
England, 14 per cent in Wales
and 17 per cent in Scotland.And
all the time, the spectre of
climate change looms large.
This makes depressing reading
but there is something positive
we can do, and that’s where Tree
For All comes in.We are holding
events nationwide to get children planting and working with a
great variety of partners to make it happen from the Guide
movement, to Barnardo’s to big companies and schools. It’s
not just in Trust woods either (although we’re taking every
opportunity we can to plant in places where the biodiversity
benefits are greatest).Trees are being planted in school
grounds, business centres, people’s gardens and woods owned
publicly and privately.
You may have already heard about Tree For All. But
we make no apologies for writing about it again here.
It’s our biggest campaign ever, with ambitions that
have serious implications for the future of the UK’s
woods.As a volunteer, we
would like to invite you
to grasp the opportunity
to be part of it. Now’s
your chance to play a key
role in making it the
success it needs to be.
Let’s cut to the chase. Over
the next five years, the
Woodland Trust intends to
get one million children
involved in planting 12 million
trees – that’s one tree for
every child in the UK.As a supporter of the Trust, you’ll
know how important this is. But just in case you need
convincing, here’s why.
We know that children are
growing up in an
environment in which they
are increasingly disconnected
with nature as the MORI
research shows. More
research shows that children
in the UK spend more time
watching TV and are less
active than anywhere else in Europe.
Yet now we are facing a future where our native woods are
more threatened than ever before. Frighteningly we are one of
the least wooded countries in Europe. Finland has over 60 per
cent cover. Compare this with a measly 6 per cent in
8 email: [email protected] tel: 01476 581111 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 9
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
Research by MORI
shows that 39 per
cent of 15-24 year
olds claim they
“don’t have time
to be green.”
What you can doSpread the word by telling friends and family about Tree for All.
Plant native trees and shrubs in your garden or give them as presents to others.Visit www.native-tree-shop.com
Organise a local tree planting event – we offer guidance and a small grant for community events
Get your local school involved. More than 2,000 schools have already signed up to plant trees in their grounds and we
have more free trees available for 2005.
Plant an e-tree on the website.
Be seen. Display the sticker sent to all members. If you haven’t got one contact us.
Get digging. Come along to a planting event and encourage any children you know to come too (with parental
permission of course).
You can get in touch with us or visit the website for information about where to get saplings, how to plant themand how to care for them afterwards (see below).
Thank you
To get more detailed information about local Tree For All events and ways to get involved, visit www.treeforall.org.uk or call 01476 581155
“The Tree For All campaign is the Woodland Trust
in a cheerful mood . . . looking forward with hope.”Clive Anderson,Woodland Trust President
“At its heart this campaign is about muddy boots and hands. It’s
about real, simple, honest action . . . children planting trees.”Jonathan Dimbleby
“Every child should havethe chance to hear birdssing. Every child shouldhave the chance to feelthe breeze blowingthrough the trees.Tree For All can makethat happen.Tree For Allcan help children to careabout their world, theirfuture. Help them tocare. Help them to planta tree.”
Gail Porter
WT
PL/ V
icto
r de
Jesu
s
WT
PL/
Mat
t Li
mb
WT
PL/
Mat
t Li
mb
WT
PL/
Mat
t Li
mb
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 11:03 am Page 9
10 email: [email protected] tel: 01476 581111
carried on from front page
a ‘Woodland Access Standard.’ Based on robust
research, this is a tool that will help planners and
green space managers to assess where woods are
needed most.The Woodland Access Standard
aspires that:
no person should live more than 500 metres
from at least one area of accessible woodland
of no less than 2 hectares in size;
there should also be at least one area of
accessible woodland of no less than 20
hectares within 4 kilometres of people’s
homes.
Astonishingly, at the moment the percentage of
the UK population which does not have access to
a wood of at least 2 hectares within 500 metres is
90 per cent in England, 85 per cent in Wales, 85
per cent in Scotland, and 93 per cent in Northern
Ireland.
Of course, in some places, it may not be
appropriate to increase access to woods, for
example, where there is already other accessible
wildlife habitat...The Woodland Access Standard
won’t be applicable everywhere and it needs to be
used with common sense.
“By our calculations there is a deficit of woodland
in the UK,” explains Nick,“We want to open up a
debate over the months ahead about the
importance of expanding our woodland resource
to provide even greater public benefit.”
We hope you will join the debate.
Find out more by reading the Space for People report atwww.woodland-trust.org.uk
or call us for a copy.
If you are a green space manager or aplanner, or have links with people who are, please use the report
or pass on details.
What you can do tomake space for people
Meet some fellow volunteers involved in awhole variety of tasks out of the woods.
Build a new communityOn www.woodland-trust.org.uk you’ll find a large family of
websites covering a whole range of woodland related topics.
Many of these are home to online communities where
interested parties can post information, ask questions, discuss
best practise or share any other news.
We’re looking for people who would like to become volunteer hosts for these
communities.The role of the hosts will be to stimulate discussions, help
members find information, welcome new participants and make sure everyone
is having a good time.Training will be given but this is a new role so there’ll be
a chance to take a lead in developing it.
OUT OF THEWOODS
Malcolm
Happened to meet
with a Trust staff
member at an event
just as he was due to retire from his job
as a lawyer. He now offers us his legal
expertise.
Stuart
Helps us with all
manner of computer
related tasks.With us
he is getting further experience and he
has the flexibility to do something to fit
in with his role as a carer.
Mary
Helps with a whole range of admin tasks. She responded to a members’ appeal for
volunteers four years ago.
Olwyn
Olwyn has health
problems but finds that
the admin jobs she
does for the Trust give her the flexibility to
work at her own pace.
Hema
Involved in our picture
library scanning images.
When her husband’s
job led to a move to the UK from Madras
she wanted an opportunity to get out of
the house and improve her skills at the
same time.
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 11
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 11
S P O T L I G H T
Name: Gary Mead
Volunteer role: Historical dataresearcher for the UK PhenologyNetwork
Age: 28
Location: Wickford, Essex
Q: How did you first get involved?
A: Initially I did some data handling for the Centre for Ecology and
Hydrology* They put me in touch with the Woodland Trust and
I subsequently got involved in going through diaries, some of
which span more than fifty years, and entering records into
spreadsheets for the phenology database.
Q: What do you enjoy about the work you do?
A: The experience is improving my observation skills - interpreting
records and hidden meanings as well as looking for anomalies
and entries of further interest. It is also rewarding to be able to
put to good use the work of the diarists who have obviously
committed much time and effort to recording their observations
as well as being aware that many have unknowingly contributed
to a worthwhile project.
It’s put me in contact with some very interesting and helpful
people.
Q: Why do you think the Trust’s work is important?
A: In a world where space is becoming more of a commodity and
climate change an increasing concern, conserving our trees and
woods, whether they be ancient or newly planted, can only be a
good thing.
I think it is also important to praise the Woodland Trust’s
attitude to its volunteers.The support and feedback I have
received has been of enormous benefit and encouragement, and
it is this mutual respect that makes volunteering with them all
the more worthwhile.
Read more about Gary’s role in Seeking out the past (see left).
Gary has Marfan Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that
weakens the connective tissue. Because of this, he tires easily but
this makes him even more determined to achieve his goals.
* The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology are our partners in the
UK Phenology Network.
Seeking outthe past
by Phil Croxton,phenology historical research officer
When we made a press appeal for phenology
records (see page 3) the office was flooded
with journals and diaries from across the
country.This was great news but the volume
of work seemed insurmountable.
That’s where Elaine Gathercole and Gary Mead
came in.They are voluntarily transcribing the
records onto computer spreadsheets ready for
incorporation into the UK Phenology Network
database.The value of this to the Woodland
Trust is clear but there are also benefits for the
volunteers.
“It is a real privilege to make such good use of the
painstaking work of these pioneers of phenology.”
Elaine told me. “So far, I’ve converted the work of
one gentleman from Kent who kept records from
1856 to 1898. Now I’m half way through 40 years
worth of diaries kept by a lady from Ipswich.”
Elaine, who is retired and an experienced
birdwatcher, is inspired by her involvement.
“There have been interesting challenges such as
grappling with the Latin names of flowers, or
working out what a fern owl was (nightjar) or a
grove pettychaps (wood warbler). I never did find
out what a laughing fauvette was so if anyone
knows, please tell me!”
You can read more about Gary’s experience
(opposite).
If you have any historical data you would like
to contribute to the UK phenology project,
or would like to enlighten Elaine about the
laughing fauvette, contact the volunteers team.
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 12
12 email: [email protected] tel: 01476 581111
ANCIENT TREES
THE HUNT IS ONLast year we launched a brand new website,
www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk and already
it’s helped us to find out about more
than 3,000 ancient trees. This
information is incredibly useful not least
because if we know where the trees are we
have a better chance of taking action
to conserve them. Even if you
don’t have anything to report
about ancient trees, the
site is well worth a visit.
There’s a map which shows
the location of all the
ancient trees we know about and it’s
packed with fascinating stories
about these magnificent finds.
ANCIENT TREESIN PERIL
Sadly, despite their
incredible ecological
value, their beguiling looks
and the history that they
hold, ancient trees often aren’t
protected.They face even
more threats than ancient
woods. If you know of any particular cases
where exceptional ancient trees are under
threat for whatever reason, please report it.
Knowing about such cases will give us more
evidence to support our
campaign for legislation to be
strengthened and we may even
be able to help save that
particular tree.
Contact us via either of
the ancient tree websites,
or call the
volunteers team.
Trees on your travelsWe want to hear about exceptional
ancient trees you may have met on
your travels.We have a lot
to learn from our foreign
neighbours.
In other northern European
countries, individual heritage
trees are protected by law
whereas our Tree Preservation
Orders have exemption clauses which mean
that dead, dying and dangerous trees can be
felled. The very trees we most want to
protect are therefore the most vulnerable.
We are actively campaigning with other
organisations to change our legislation.
If you have Internet
access, look on
the ancient
trees
website
for more information
about what to look out
for on your travels.
This oak, where Oliver Cromwell
is said to have hanged
four royalists, is over
600 years old. One
of many intriguing finds
on the Ancient Tree Hunt Website.
We have teamed up with the Ancient Tree Forum to celebrate ancient trees and do all we can to conserve them. Read about what’s happening in this section and if you have
Internet access please help keep the discussion forum alive which can be found on bothwww.ancient-tree-forum.org.uk and www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk
“Ancient trees are precious
– there is little else on earth
that plays host to such a rich
community of life within a
single living organism.”Sir David Attenborough
Pete
r Wel
ls
A plaque on a protected tree in Sweden.
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 13
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 13
Name: Claire Balding
Volunteer role: Corporateresearcher
Occupation: Research scientist
Age: 29
Location: Liverpool
Q: Describe what you do for the Woodland Trust?
A: I am involved in profiling companies that the Trust would like to
engage as sponsors or partners. Profiling entails compiling
information such as the size of the company, its environmental
policies, activities in the community, charities it supports and key
personnel. I also profile industry sectors, identifying trade
associations, the major players within the industry and gaining
insights into environmental trends.
Q: How did you first get involved?
A: I have been a supporter of the Trust since 2002. In 2003 I
decided I wanted to get more actively involved. I would have
liked to have volunteered in a nature reserve, or done some sort
of ecological monitoring, but I live in the centre of Liverpool and
have no car.Then I saw this position advertised on the Woodland
Trust s website, and thought it was perfect for me.
Q: What do you get out of it?
A: I play an active role in promoting the protection of the
environment and creation of new woodland, despite living in the
city. It also adds to my CV, and gives me insights into companies
environmental activities — an area I would like to work in.
Q: Why do you think the Trust’s work is important?
A: The UK was once covered by forests. Humans have really taken
over the whole landscape — if you fly on a clear day, you can
see how it is covered by fields, towns, cities . . . it s important to
ensure woodland habitats are preserved and new woodland
created. I don t think we can justify criticising the logging of
tropical rainforests unless we are willing to put some effort into
preserving our own natural habitats.
The work the Trust does with companies gives a huge boost to our native woods. There are also some really stimulating volunteer roles in this area.
IN BUSINESS
A thousand thanks
A thousand thanks to those volunteers who
helped us to distribute around 10,000 posters to
help us promote this year s Christmas Card
Recycling Scheme.As we go to press we are
counting and weighing the number of cards
recycled at branches of WHSmith and Tesco.
We ll then add this to the total of nearly 5,000
tonnes of cards recycled since the scheme began
seven years ago. Money raised will go towards
our Tree For All campaign (see page 8). It s a
brilliant scheme made all the more successful by
your help. For more information visit
www.woodland-trust.org.uk/recycling
Yellow woodsby Penny Pulfrey
Corporate Partnership Team
Since 2002, half a
million children have
taken the Yellow
Woods Challenge (YWC).
Teaming up with Yell, the
Yellow Pages people, and
schools all over the UK, the Trust encourages children
to recycle their Yellow Pages and learn about the
environment at the same time.
Schools are rewarded for their efforts and so lots of
events are held to celebrate their success. Some
voluntary speakers are already involved by
representing the Trust at these events and they really
help us to run the campaign effectively.
If you are a speaker interested in getting involved in
YWC events in your area, please contact the
volunteers team. For more information visit
www.yellow-woods.co.uk
S P O T L I G H T
Yell/
Citi
gate
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 14
14 email: [email protected] tel: 01476 581111
FREQUENTLY ASKEDQUESTIONS
by Gordon Pfetscher, certification manager
Starting with the last question first, ‘FSC’ stands for ‘Forest Stewardship Council’.
FSC is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to the crucial task of
promoting responsible management of the world’s forests. It was founded over ten years ago
in response to public concern about deforestation and demand for a wood-labelling scheme
that customers could trust.
The Woodland Trust is proud to have become the first major landowner in the UK to have
all its woods certified by the FSC. Others like the Forestry Commission, National Trust,
RSPB and English Nature have since followed our lead.
In order to meet the stringent requirements of the FSC, we have to comply with a certain
minimum standard and we are rigorously audited against this standard (called the UK
Woodland Assurance Scheme – UKWAS) every year.The UKWAS Standard is broad in its
remit and covers aspects of law, management planning, operations, protection, conservation,
the community and the forest workforce.
Most of the paperwork that our woodland officers need from volunteers such as risk
assessments, first aid training, powertool certificates and insurance is as a result of health and
safety legislation.The FSC ensures that we are responsible landowners and complying with
the law including this legislation.This paperwork may seem tiresome at times but the safety of
our volunteers is paramount and we also have a great respect for the credibility of the FSC.
by Merle Dekanski, volunteers officer
For those who don’t already know, this activity diary comprises a simple form to be
completed regularly and tells us the time you have donated to the task. It can then be given
to your task manager or sent directly to the volunteers team in the office at Grantham. Or
if it’s easier for you, the information can be emailed to us.
There are various reasons why this is needed, for instance it enables us to report to
supporters and trustees the benefit volunteers give the organisation. Another tangible one is
that on specific projects funders will convert the hours to a notional value which we can use
for match funding. In 2004 the hours volunteers donated gave us a notional value of over
£1.2m. If every volunteer had provided us with information of their time donation – it could
have been even more.
What you do already for the Trust as a volunteer is hugely appreciated. But we hope that,
knowing how much of a difference it will make, you won’t mind spending a few additional
moments completing this information.Thanks.
Is it really necessary
to fill out paperwork
before we work in a wood?
I’ve heard we have to do it
because of ‘FSC certification.’
What is this?
QQ AA
Why do volunteers
need to complete
an activity diary for the
Woodland Trust? Surely my
time would be better spent
doing something that more
directly helps native woods?
QQ AA
In the next edition we’d like to introduce a letters page. Is there something you’ve learnt that other volunteers may find useful?
Do you have a question for Trust staff or other volunteers? Would you like to provoke a debate on a particular issue?
Whatever your point, here’s a chance to make it in front of more than 1,400 other volunteers.
Please mark your letters for the attention of: Sallyanne Flemons, Editor,The Volunteer Newsletter,
c/o Volunteers Team at the usual Woodland Trust Grantham address (see back cover) or email
[email protected] with ‘letters page’ in the subject area.
LETTERS PA
GE
COM
ING
SOON
Look out for the FSC logo when buyinganything made of wood. It is the onlywood labelling scheme to trust.
SA-FM/COC-12701996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 15
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 15
CommunityGroupMembers andWardensHainault Forest, Essex
We are looking to run a
regular series of conservation
tasks and events and hope
that this will lead to the
creation of a sustainable
community group at Hainault.
Later on this year we will
also be looking for wardens
to keep an eye on the wood.
Web illustratorNature Detectives
Based anywhere
Nature Detectives is the
new junior wing of the UK
Phenology Network (see
page 3).This is an exciting
chance for someone to
create some inspiring
cartoon style illustrations to
illuminate the website at
naturedetectives.org.uk
WardensUK-wide
We need wardens to visit
woods and watch over them
all over the UK. In particular,
we need to monitor the
Woodland Creation Scheme
plots at Stratton near
Swindon and Wheatley Wood
in Rayleigh, Essex.
HistoricalresearchersUK-wide
Some of our sites have
hidden histories that we, and
many others, would like to
know more about.This
fascinating role would involve
research including visits to
libraries and records offices.
Woodland Trust volunteer cartoonist required (any species)
BotanicalsurveyorsPontburn Wood, Durham
Could you help carry out a
survey of species present on
the site to aid the collection
of useful data and to act as a
baseline for further
monitoring? You would need
basic plant ID skills to
include flowering plants,
grasses and lower species if
possible.The role would
involve systematically
surveying specific areas of
this site.An understanding of
the importance of various
species would also help.
OrdnanceSurvey MapsResearcherAncient woodland
inventory project
Bangor, Northern Ireland
This role needs someone
based in or near Bangor as
it’s mainly visiting the library
and possibly the Northern
Ireland Woodland Trust office
as well. An interest in
researching historical
information and an
understanding of historical
maps and records would help.
AdministratorsAround Grantham,
Lincolnshire
Volunteers are needed to
help with mailings and data
entry on an ad hoc basis in
the Trust’s Grantham Office.
Most of the tasks are likely
to be during normal office
hours but this is flexible as
some work can be done
from home.
WT
PL/C
hris
toph
er L
outh
WT
PL/S
teve
n K
ind
WT
PL/Ja
ne B
egg
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESHere are just a few of the inspiring volunteering opportunities available at the Woodland Trust. To
find out about others, please get in touch with the volunteers team to find out more about these opportunities.These and other opportunities can also be found on our website.
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 16
VO
Newsletter forThe Woodland Trust logo is a registered trademark Registered Charity No. 294344 A non-profit making company limited by guarantee Registered in England No. 1982873� Printed on recycled paper
We have teamed up with the BBC to give the
phenology project (see page 3) a huge boost.
Many of you will
have seen Bill
Oddie launching
Springwatch live on
How to Watch
Wildlife in January.
The public has been invited to look out for six key species,
and record them on bbc.co.uk/springwatch.The results will
feed into the UK Phenology Network so we hope to recruit
hundreds of new recorders.The initial findings will be broadcast
on a special programme at Easter and feature in the new BBC
TWO series Springwatch with Bill Oddie starting on 30 May.
NEWS . . .16 email: [email protected] tel: 01476 581111
BBCSpringwatch
National ForestlandscapephotographycompetitionTIMEframe is an exciting new
photography competition being
run by the National Forest.
Capture your favourite
landscape views and heritage
features within the National
Forest area and have the chance
to win £300 worth of vouchers
for photographic equipment
and a National Forest adopt a
tree pack worth £125.Your
picture must have been taken
between 1 November 2004
and 31 October 2005.
For more information visit the National Forest website
at www.nationalforest.org/fscene/w2004/heritage.html
or call 01283 551211.
Getting in touchThe Woodland Trust
Autumn Park, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6LLTel: 01476 581111 Fax: 01476 590808
BT Textdirect: 18001 01476 581135
email: [email protected]/getinvolved
The volunteers online community is atwww.woodland-community.org.uk/volunteers
e-copiesYou can opt to receive future issues of this
newsletter via email.To do so, please indicate on
the questionnaire on the back of the letter that
came with the newsletter or send an email to
the volunteers team.
Over to youPlease spare a moment to complete the questionnaire that
came with this newsletter. We want to do all we can to
make this a resource that you will really want to read so
do tell us what you want. If you would like to get involved
with any aspect of the production of this newsletter, get in
touch with the volunteers team in Grantham.Thanks.
MembershipleafletsWe have new membership
leaflets for 2005. If you would
like a supply, please get in touch
with us at the Grantham office.
To avoid confusion, older leaflets
should no longer be used.
?NEW NAME
Can you think of a better namethan Volunteer Newsletter?
If so, let us know in the questionnaire that
came with this newsletter.
� W e b e t y o u c a n ! �
2814 NewsletterPRINT 29/3/05 10:56 am Page 1