Words from the Woods December 2015

Full Circle for Full Cycle

Over the last year the Mosaic (CNP) Young Champions, many of whom had not ever been in natural woodland before, have coppiced wood, made charcoal from that wood, used that charcoal to forge their own knives and slept out in their own woodland camp. As you can see from the pics Clare Dyson had a near miss and Gareth well who knows...? They have been full cycle in the woodland year...its been an inspiring time for us all.

In partnership with Rusland Horizons

A Course as a present?...

The Christmas flurry has started already with some super organised folk buying Woodmatters courses as presents! If you fancy doing the same we'll design a lovely voucher for you to wrap up under the tree!.

Community Woodland Custodians?

Earlier in the year, you may have noticed LDNPA advertising Yewbarrow Woods in Longsleddale for sale. It is a steeply sloping ancient woodland of around 36 acres and a SSSI. Diane Hubbard, who lives in the valley, is trying to establish whether there is interest within the local and wider community in a group of people taking on a “custodial” role for the woods – not purchasing the woodland, but with the aims of caring for it and potentially creating public access.You can find out more at Longsleddale Community Hall on Saturday 21 November at 10am.

If you feel you can offer skills (either practical or organisational) or are interested but unable to come please contact Diane diane@greenfootstepscumbria.co.uk 01539 823636

Ash Die back in South Lakes

Sad news that last week Ash Dieback was discovered in Witherslack. An expert from the Forestry Commission confirmed the outbreak and from what he saw, it had arrived this summer. He also thought that it had probably been on the nearby A590 for longer. Click here for the Managing Chalara in the North West of England leaflet produced by the NW Tree Health group and Forestry Commission.If you are out and about and you spot anything that tallies with the info in this leaflet please contact the Forestry Commission.

Diggin' the Trees

Calling all tree enthusiasts! Diggin' the Trees offer opportunities for volunteers to take part in fun tree planting days. They are looking for any organised planting days that need a load of volunteers to help, or projects that still need organising. Equally, if you know of any receptive land-owners that are in need of some labour in order to create some beautiful native woodlands then contact Dan Morris danymorris208@hotmail.com

POEM CORNER...

Here's a poem that seems to match the time of year and the weather we've been having...

I love the fitfull gusts that shakes
 The casement all the day
And from the mossy elm tree takes
 The faded leaf away
Twirling it by the window-pane
With thousand others down the lane

I love to see the shaking twig
 Dance till the shut of eve
The sparrow on the cottage rig
 Whose chirp would make believe

That spring was just now flirting by
In summers lap with flowers to lie

I love to see the cottage smoke
 Curl upwards through the naked trees
The pigeons nestled round the coat
 On dull November days like these
The cock upon the dung-hill crowing
The mill sails on the heath agoing

The feather from the ravens breast
 Falls on the stubble lea
The acorns near the old crows nest
 Fall pattering down the tree
The grunting pigs that wait for all
Scramble and hurry where they fall

Extract from 'Autumn' by John Clare