A date for your diary as social forestry gets social
A community information event to let people know about an exciting new social enterprise set up to help local woodlands, wildlife and people takes place on Wednesday 13 March at the Green Wood Centre in Coalbrookdale.
Telford Woods is an enterprise set up by Small Woods Association with support from Telford & Wrekin Council to care for 500 hectares of council-owned woodlands and use them as venues for social, craft and training activities that boost people’s confidence and wellbeing.
Trees and woodlands are the borough’s most visible and environmentally important asset. Around 15 million were planted by Telford Development Corporation from the late 1960s to cover the scars of the land’s industrial heritage and create a ‘Forest City’. It is estimated that they remove in the region of 100 tonnes of air pollution a year and store 100,000 tonnes of carbon.
As well as cleaning the air that we breathe, woodlands provide a haven for wildlife and people. Thanks to funding from the Council’s Telford 50 Legacy Fund, the new social enterprise will open up volunteering and training opportunities for groups and individuals to benefit from all that they have to offer.
The information event will give individuals, groups, schools and businesses the opportunity to find out more about the enterprise, which will be fully up and running in the summer.
There will be talks about local woodlands, how social forestry can boost wildlife, help improve people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, and what products can be made from woodlands.
People can also find out how they can get involved and take a guided tour around the Green Wood Centre.
Cllr Rae Evans, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for people services, visitor economy and partnerships, said: “This is an exciting venture that will transform the way we look after our woodlands. It is a fantastic example of how we are working with local partners for the benefit of our communities, and it will truly be a lasting legacy of Telford 50.”
Ian Baker, Small Woods Chief Executive, said, “We are honoured and excited to be getting involved in such an important and potentially ground breaking project. The founding vision for Telford was to create a Forest City – working together, we will be looking to bring that Forest a step closer.
“The Telford Woods project will help Telford’s communities to get involved in their much loved local woodlands and will hopefully encourage others to follow suit elsewhere in the country.”
The drop-in event is at the Green Wood Centre, Station Road, Coalbrookdale, TF8 7DR on Wednesday 13 March from 2pm to 7pm. There will be half-hourly guided tours between 2pm and 4pm, and presentations from 6pm. Refreshments will be available to purchase from the café.
