Be king of a wild frontier (From Worcester News)

Be king of a wild frontier

11:28am Monday 7th June 2010 in

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HAVE you ever fancied working in a forest?

Not in the style of Robin Hood, Bigfoot or Davy Crockett, more along the lines of the TV series Axe Men, but without the muscle and probably the language.

Why? Because this week is National Volunteer Week and in Worcestershire there’s a special opportunity for anyone interested in traditional forestry.

Natural England and the Wyre Community Land Trust are teaming up to offer a limited number of local volunteers the chance to contribute to the restoration of the ancient landscape of the Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve, near Bewdley, using traditional methods to help re-establish ancient woodland, traditional orchards and help manage ancient wildflower meadows.

Volunteer days will be held every Wednesday from June 16 and weekend tasks will be carried out on the second Sunday of each month, beginning on June 13.

John Iles, from the Wyre Community Land Trust, said: “The forest used to feature in the lives of just about everyone who lived in the area, whether they worked as woodsmen or charcoal makers, grazed animals or simply helped out with the seasonal picking of fruit from the once extensive orchards. We want to give people the chance to experience that same connection with the natural landscape on their doorsteps.”

In the past the Wyre Forest was extensively managed as coppice, with small plots being cut every few years to produce charcoal, fire wood and timber products such as pit props. Natural England is working to restore this traditional way of working as it helps to diversify the age and species structure of the woodland and to support the iconic fritillary butterflies for which the forest is so famous.

The key to this volunteer project is that the Wyre Forest was a traditionally, coppiced woodland on a 20 or 25-year rotation and produced small diameter timber for the local community. It is by character an ‘open woodland’ rather than a dense forest and that means no tree in the forest was more than 30 years old. It was this fact that enabled the particular species and the habitats for which it is renowned to flourish.

After coppicing, when there is more light, wildflowers flourish, then as the scrub reappears, nesting birds have suitable habitat in which to breed. Finally the more dense and shady growth later in the year suppresses the weed species which would overwhelm the native flowers.

Currently the timber coppiced is used for firewood, chippings for use in woodchip stoves being installed in schools and community buildings locally, and the plan is to move on to hurdle making charcoal and other products which would bring essential income to reinvest in the forest.

Volunteers will be working predominantly with modern versions of traditional hand tools, although those who are regularly involved may develop their skills to include chain saws. It’s likely that a core of regulars will come again and again but organisers are happy to welcome those who come infrequently to find out more about woodland management.

Saul Herbert, from Natural England, said: “We hope our new volunteer programme will give small groups of volunteers the chance to find out more about the natural environment on this very special site and the practical work will vary from week to week and from season to season, so volunteers will learn lots of new skills. It is also really rewarding, after even one days work, to be able to stand back and see the lasting effect of your own work on the landscape of the forest.”

The volunteer programme will be jointly managed by Natural England and the Wyre Community Land Trust, and each day will involve a specific task so volunteers can choose whether to come along regularly or more occasionally.

In the UK 71 per cent of adults volunteered in some way last year with 47 per cent volunteering at least once a month.

Anyone interested in getting involved should ring or e-mail Saul Herbert to ensure there are places available. Call 0300 0602707 (weekdays), 07525 968440 (weekends) or e-mail Saul.Herbert@ naturalengland.org.uk.

And if your name’s John Little, or even Alan Adale, you’ll go to the front of the queue.