The Nether Hall Wood team have been working hard on various projects including the National Forest Walking Festival, putting up nest boxes, and working with the Derbyshire Bat Group, more details below.
David Gravett - Membership Coordinator
What's In this Woodfueler
Rosliston Forestry Centre Shop
Nether Hall Wood
We are taking part in the National Forest Walking Festival this year with a guided walk around Nether Hall Wood. We are hoping to welcome members of the public and the local community along to explain our role in managing the site, how they can get involved and to get their feedback on what the woodland means to them. The walk starts at 1.30 on the 21st May. Parking is very limited at the site so we have asked attendees to park in the church car park and take a 10 minute walk through the village. A number of our group will be there to explain all aspects of our “discovery year” at the wood. If you would like to come along, either as a visitor or to help please let me know.
Details of the Nation Forest Walking Festival 2022 can be found here https://www.nationalforest.org/visit/national-forest-walking-festival
Aside of the festival the sub-group have been busy at the woodland. Around 12 of us met up to remove around 30 “widow makers”, most caused by squirrel damage and posing a potential threat to visitors. Armed with our pole saws and long-reach hooks we safely managed them to the ground. While there we also installed 12 nest boxes made by the Hartshorne Scout Group, all with a “What Three words” address so the scouts and easily find their boxes and note whether they are being used. This exercise will form part of a morning of filming by the Woodland Trust on the 31st May, showing how the community are engaging with us at the site.
If you are thinking of going for a walk, why not drop in at Nether Hall? It's a lovely woodland and don’t forget we get to look after it, so whatever goes through your mind as you walk there we can look at and potentially act upon.
We will also shortly be welcoming the Derbyshire Bat group who will be installing bat detectors to we can record the various species we hope make the site their home. Later in the year a fungi walk and ID event will be arranged.
Anyone who would like to be more involved please email
Kevin Banton - Nether Hall Wood Chair
Heartwood HQ
Are you itching to get back into the woods?
Heartwood HQ in Newbold Coleorton is a great place to do just that, and everyone is welcome.
In April members put together insect boxes which were made for another community group who purchased these for an event they are putting on over the platinum jubilee.
Charcoal wood was processed and stacked and both retorts were lit.
Coming Up:
There are specific craft days, but you can just attend on one of the days and spend time there, you may want to have a go at making charcoal, you may just want to see what it’s like, see the website for details of days.
- Saturday 28th May, Besom making
- Friday 10th June, Green wood craft session TBC
Please review the website for other planned activities which include green wood crafts and chainsaw skills in July.
Remember we always have the fire going and for a small donation lunch is usually provided.
Chris Adams - Heartwood HQ Chair
Training
First Aiders are a critical part of the sessions that we run, we have two opportunities for members to attend Emergency First Aid at Work + Forestry training on the following dates. Training session usually run from 9.30 until 16.30, full details will be emailed out to those attending. The EFAW+F qualification lasts for three years.
- Thursday 25th August
- Saturday 17th September
Please email to register your interest in attending by emailing
Robin Barber - Training Co-ordinator
Rosliston Forestry Centre Shop
Our goods are now on sale at the shop at Rosliston Forestry Centre. Together with items made by the whole group we are pleased to offer some excellent quality crafted items made by Paddy Croxall and David Gravett. The first month has gone quite well despite it only just being the start of the busy season at the centre. Our charcoal is available in the shop and is being offered to guests who stay in the holiday cabins at the site, so we have high hopes of this being a productive outlet, especially later in the year for Halloween and Christmas items. We try to make as many of these items at the HQ craft sessions, so if you fancy your hand at making a few items for group funds please book onto one of the sessions on the booking system.
As a result of the shop selling woodland craft items there will be another craft outlet opening on site at the end of May. This will have more local makers selling their goods and include pop-up markets and craft courses. Please follow Rosliston Forestry Centre on Facebook to keep up with the latest news on this.
Kevin Banton - Heartwood Chair
Charnwood Charcoal Event
On June the 18th and 19th we will be leading a charcoal making event at The Outwoods in Charnwood where we will not only be running our own charcoal retort, but we’ll also be taking a big role in running a 6 foot diameter ring kiln. The ring kiln will be a two day exercise and will include an overnight stay to manage the burn. For many of us this will be the first experience of running a ring kiln, so under the direction of Pete Nicholls we hope to learn a great deal.
The event is being organised by the National Forest team and will have family activities during the two days. Anyone who would like more information or wants to get involved please let me know.
Aside from the event we are also working with the National Forest team on an educational package for delivery to local schools focussed on heritage woodland crafts/skills. Heartwood will be the recipient of the full package for school delivery once it has been tested and demonstrated to the education community. Our next demonstration will be at an event again at The Outwoods on the 20th May. A few members to help would be great, so let me know if you can spare a few hours on that date.
Kevin Banton - Heartwood Chair