2023 has been an exciting year, with change exploding all around our ancient woodland based in Liskeard.
The changes - we want to shout about them! So, we held our very first High Wood Family Fun Day a few weeks ago - although we addressed everyone in suitable tones (we didn’t shout). We invited members of the local community to High Wood so we could share with them the progress - speak with community members about what we’ve done and continue to get feedback from them.
Keep reading for a play-by-play account to feel like you were there.
High Wood Family Fun Day 2023
Our Family Fun Day was on June 24th.
Thankfully, the weather was on our side and under the sun’s beautiful rays, we welcomed a handful of families, local councillors, a few pooches, and friends to our beautiful woodland. Even Guy Shrubsole’s mum managed an appearance!
We intended to let locals know of the work we’d achieved, why it’s important to do so, and let them know that High Wood will continue to be open to them to come and enjoy.
Steve the Ecologist started by taking everyone on an Ecology Walk. He spoke to the group about the birds, insects, plant life and what we’re doing with the trees (taking down conifers to allow for natural regeneration - we’ll come back to this in more detail in another post).
After Steve’s insightful walk, we had a BBQ hosted by the wonderful Meike from Forest of Cornwall. While the event was free, we sold food and drinks to raise money, enabling us to plant apple trees. The thick shade provided by the conifer that once covered this area vanished after we thinned conifers. The apple trees (UK native species) will reshade the gap and refreshment in the future. It was great to see families enjoying one of the permanent picnic benches paid for with past donations.
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Steve the Ecologist led a walk wow’ing everyone with High Woods’ transformation [/caption]
There was marshmallow roasting, a scavenger hunt for kids, and later in the afternoon, a Medicinal Foraging Walk by a local friend of the woods, Margarita. She explained various historical and current-day uses of many common plants you wouldn’t think useful, like Hawthorn and stinging nettles!
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An unexpected Open Day guest popped up! Oak saplings have started breaking the soil all over the woodland! [/caption]
To sum up
We are exceptionally proud of the progress in High Wood and excited by all the signs showing its redevelopment into a healthy woodland.
Naturally, we’re proud to show off what we think is a gem. And we were so happy to have families share High Wood with us.
We’ll be hosting our High Wood Open Day every year, so put June 8th 2024 in your diaries now. The open days are important for us as we can encourage communities local to our woodlands to establish a closer connection with the living world!
Please like our Facebook page or join our mailing list on the Protect Earth website to be notified of when events like High Wood Open Days are happening again.