Malvern Community Forest
A LOCAL COMMUNITY WOODLAND
Malvern Community Forest is a newly formed group who are in the process of acquiring charity status.
In our short time of existence we have already got pledges for the provision of over 2000 trees.
Malvern Forest Group are actively pursuing the aim of recreating the Malvern Chase which was an ancient forest covering 13 parishes, administered from Hanley Castle.
We believe this should be done by involving all local councils and the forestry commission to actively encourage local landowners to plant trees and to further encourage them to give public access to these new woodlands.
The forestry commission working with Worcestershire county council have designated the area East of Malvern as priority 1 for woodland creation (Forestry commission Woodland Opportunities Map Version 2 June 2007).
MALVERN COMMUNITY FOREST are actively seeking to acquire some land and create a community native woodland with full public access, cycle tracks and disabled access, together with an green education center of some 20 Hectares to the East of Malvern.
The trees will soak up CO2 for generations to come and therefore counter
the greenhouse effect, rather than adding to Malvern's carbon footprint
if the land is built on.
The community forest will be a self financing asset.
Businesses can fund it as part of their carbon offset schemes. Local people can donate trees. We will involve all the local school children in seed sowing and tree planting. The group hopes to fund the project through donations from its own members and supporters, through corporate support and partnerships, through woodland creation grants and other methods.
The wood will be planted with Oak, Ash, Sweet Chestnut and Hazel will have long term sustainability and strategic benefit. It would create a massive natural material resource for construction timber, timber for furniture and garden products and a managed source of biofuels for local people. Other areas will have wide rides and glades with less productive species that have greater wildlife value such as Spindle, Wild service tree, Holly, Field Maple and Dog wood etc.
We welcome help from anyone with our campaign – with funds, help or advice. Do you know of any land we may be able to acquire?
Small donations from individuals will help to “unlock” larger sums by providing matching funding for grant applications from other bodies.
Malvern Community Forest is now a Facebook group. Join today.
Malvern Community Forest has a dedicated website at www.malverncommunityforest.org.uk
For more details please contact Phil at pahoppy@btinternet.com