Grown in Britain week - woodland walk

Grown in Britain (GiB) week is coming up next month, from 14-20 October, and to celebrate, the Forestry Commission would like to host a walk in the woodland.

The aims of the Grown in Britain initiative are: 

• To create a new and stronger market pull for the array of products derived from our woodlands and forests.
• To develop private sector funding that supports the planting and management of woodland and forests through funding from corporates as part of their corporate social responsibility.
• To connect together and harness the positive energy and feelings towards our woodlands and forests that many in our society share to create a strong wood culture. A wood culture that captures personal health and fitness, well-being, community and encourages the use of more wood and forest product. 

These aims certainly link in with some of our own objectives and so we'd like to get a few people together to walk around the woodland and learn a bit more about GiB, Sims Hill and sustainable woodland management in general. Even if you are already well clued up on all of the above, the walk will be open to all so feel free to come along and watch this space for further details.

If you have any questions send an email to simshillcw@gmail.com. 

Management plan progress!

Committee meeting
We had a positive and productive committee meeting earlier this month, with another one due at the beginning of October.

Perhaps the most positive outcome was that the Forestry Commission has offered us the time of one of their Project Officers, who will work on a management plan as part of his professional development. This is great and very welcome news that will help us to keep the ball rolling.

Chair meets council
The Sims Hill Community Woodland Chair, Dom Driver, met with the South Gloucestershire Council last week. They had a great meeting and have decided to start motoring on getting a license agreed.

Dom said, " It was really positive to make contact with local council members. I look forward to working with them more closely in future as we make more and more progress in the woodland."

AGM 2013

Well it's been a while, but we're back up and running. The 2013 AGM took place at the end of July and the ball is rolling once again. Two of our committee members have resigned due to work pressures - they will be sorely missed! But we've gained two more who both work with Scout groups, which will come in handy for future path clearing and litter picking projects! The rest of the committee was re-elected and remains the same as it ever was. 

The committee and Sims Hill members agreed to concentrate on a number of small projects designed to reinvigorate the group. They are:

• Cleaning up the pond
• Clearing the path and making it accessible to all
• Tidying up the tree guards and general litter
• Wider engagement with interested groups (Scouts, Business Park colleagues etc.)
• Improving the internal fencing
• Butterfly transect 
• Organising lunchtime walks

A few further practicalities were discussed, including free 2013/14 membership for existing members due to the appallingly wet summer that meant we got next to nothing done in the woodland done last year. New members well be asked to pay the annual fee of £5, which will go towards insurance and management plan costs.