Donisthorpe ODA Memorial Garden Nest Box Session
Netherseal School Nest/Insect Box Session
Landowners
The National Forest Company hold several walk and talk events for local landowners and other interested parties, where the NFC team lead a walk around a local woodland project (Feanedock on this occasion) to explain their support and grant schemes and show how they are being applied. This always presents an opportunity for us to network with the NFC team and importantly local woodland owners. The event was very well attended and has provided a couple of potential leads for us regarding future woodland work. One of the most interesting being South Derbyshire District Council (SDDC). They manage a number of woodlands and green spaces where our light-touch volunteer-oriented approach could be appropriate as opposed to bringing in contractors. A few of the team are looking at some of the work being proposed and will be putting together a quote. How this would be managed within the group is yet to be agreed.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
email:
Heartwood Case Study Video
The National Forest team asked us to take part in a “case study” video to coincide with our 10-year anniversary. A number of members were interviewed at a session in March along with Zoe and me. Here is the short version which the NFC have kindly given to us for our own publicity use. There is an extended version which the NFC will use for their own promotional purposes.
https://vimeo.com/943658570/f33761d6a0
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
email:
Strategic Review 2024
The committee plus the session leads met in April to take a step back to take look at where we are as a group. This included all aspects of what we do well, what can be improved, what threats we have and any challenges. As you can imagine there was a great deal to discuss, but a document has been produced for the committee to review of at the beginning of June. If anyone would like to see the draft version of the document please drop me a line, your views and input are always valued.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
email:
What’s the job? – No 6. H&S Including Risk
We get lots of very positive feedback from members, landowners and other groups we work with or interact with, about the quality of our H&S and Risk management approach. You will all know that Graham is our champion in this area working with a small team, but probably don't know what goes on behind the scenes. Here are the main activities...…
- Annual Review of risk assessments, including review of accident/near miss logs to ensure they are assessed and where necessary included in the risk mitigations
- Monitoring of industry guidance, mainly in our case FISA (Forestry Industry Safety Accord). Any updates are assessed and reflected in our documentation. The effects of ash dieback, in particular, are under review and are expected to impact working practices. Oak processionary moth is on the watch list as it is getting closer to our area.
- Creation and maintenance of method statements and safe systems of work.
- Annually provide full documentation packs to our landowners – risk assessments, training records, method statements, safe system of works. These are essential before work commences each season and are reviewed at a specific pre-commencement meeting.
- Management and investigation of accidents and near miss incidents.
- Briefing to the whole membership or to sessions leads of any specific "hot topics" – for example changes after the ATV accident last season.
- Review of any new machinery, including manufacturers documentation and safety guidance.
- Creation and updating of session documentation – day forms, accident reporting, site emergency plans, path and area closure guidance. Most of these are for use by the session lead.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
email:
Donisthorpe ODA Memorial Garden Nest Box Session
Heartwood members attended a very warm and sunny fundraising day at Donisthorpe Memorial Gardens in May. The event was organised by The Friends of the Oakthorpe, Donisthorpe & Acresford Memorial Gardens, to raise funds for the ambitious refurbishment and rejuvenation of the gardens and raise general awareness of the work being undertaken. We were paid to provide twenty nest box kits for members of the public to have a go at building on the day, which were funded by the National Forest Company via the Community Woodlands Small Grants scheme. We didn't charge for the boxes, but the nest box builders generously donated £112.00 towards the project.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
email:
Big Green Week and Calke
The postponed charcoal demonstration at Calke Abbey has been replanned for Saturday 8th June (there is an event on the system if you would like to attend). The event also coincides with the start of “The Great Big Green Week” which runs from the 8th to the 16th June. We are planning to create a daily post across social media outlining the “Green” credentials of what we do as a group. Please like and share to spread the word.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
email:
Timber Festival 2024
We will be attending the festival again this year and have been asked to run the charcoal burner, look after the campfires and run nest box building workshops. We will have limited tickets available so if you would like to help out, please let me know. The festival is over three days 5th, 6th &7th July so we need to know what days and times you are available if you would like a ticket. Please email me so I can start a list and see how that fits into a plan to cover the weekend.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
email:
Netherseal School Nest/Insect Box Session
The team at RCC (Rural Community Council) have asked if we will run a nest/insect box building session at Netherseal School with the children on the 10th July. It will be a morning session starting around 09.00. There is an event on the booking system if you are able to help.
The RCC will also be coming along to the TOITW session on the 14th June to take a look at what we do as we have been nominated for a community award.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
email:
The Hub updates
10 Year Celebration
We held a BBQ to celebrate our 10 years together. What a great turn out and thank you for the excellent cake created by Helen Bralesford. Families were able to make nest boxes, have a go at willow weaving, do some charcoal drawing and see how that charcoal is made. It was a great time to get to know other members and their families whilst having a burger or hotdog cooked over the fire.
Saturday 25th May
was our normal Time out in the Woods (TOITW) day, we had another great turnout and processed a lot of the wood that we will be using in the retorts. This is the wood that you put to one side at the Foxley wood sessions. A member trained on using the retorts, a great asset to the group as the charcoal demand is increasing. The willow weaving skills took hold and we had a few members sharing skills and things to make – baskets, dragon flies and obelisks
The Track
We have been awarded a significant grant as part of the recognition Steve Miller has received from FedEx. This will cover the cost of laying stone on the track from the car park to the camp area at the Hub. Once we get a drier period of weather, we should be able to engage the contractor to carry out the work. As part of the grant, we will be welcoming a team from FedEx on the 31st July, so if you are available please book onto the event to help with the woodland management experience day.
Chris Adams, Kevin Banton, Dave Barker | Hub Team
email: