A year of woodland wonder
NRHNBE110625e1, Formal opening of Waingroves woodland. john Stamp chairman Waingroves woodland trust next to the new carvings of the miners.
A ‘substantial’ amount of work has been done in order to keep Waingroves Community Woodland in public use - according to a local trustee.
Since taking over the running of the 13 acre land a year ago from cement company Hansons Heidelberg, a team of trustees have been busy felling trees, planting grass seeds, building fences and planting hedgrerows there.
Grants have been acquired from theNational lottery to erect two new monuments to the area’s mining history and place signage around the woods.
“Trees and woodlands don’t stand still,” said chairman of the community woodland trust John Stamp.
“There is always something that will need to be done.”
In the past year every week during the winter months, between six and 12 volunteers, known as the Monday club’, get together to strim, tidy and now even fell trees in the area.
John has even undergone training to use a chainsaw, to avoid the trust having to pay contractors to complete tree felling work. The woodland needs thinning regularly to keep pathways clear.
John estimates the trust needs to raise £5,500, every year now to maintain the woods. Some of he hopes will be gottenthrough grants - the rest from various fundraisers throughout the year.
Despite devoting hundreds of hours to the woods, John said it has been worthwhile.
“It’s a wonderful open area where we can get together as a community from time-to-time.”
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Weather for Ripley
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North east
