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The First
Community Wood for Tickhill created with
the help of local Schoolchildren, Cubs and Scouts
The residents of Tickhill cannot enjoy a
walk in the woods without first travelling outside the parish.
As part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, a town meeting
suggested that grants be sought to establish a wood of
broadleaved English trees, to be called ‘Jubilee Wood’.
Accordingly, Tickhill Countryside Group
purchased 4 acres of land and carried out fencing and planting
with the aid of grants.
 Caroline
Flint, MP for Don Valley, planted the first tree on Saturday 23rd
November 2002, during National Tree Planting Week. Local
schoolchildren, cubs and scouts and other volunteers have
continued the planting, this being achieved entirely with local
volunteer labour and was completed by the end of March 2003.
250 of the trees were originally grown from
local seeds by pupils of St. Mary’s School, using kits provided
by Tickhill Countryside Group. The trees have been staked, with
guards and mulch mats for protection. However, watering of the
new trees was carried out during the dry spring. So far the
survival rate is over 95%.
The new wood is at the end of Water Lane/Whinney
Haugh Lane, across the footpath from Tickhill to Styrrup. It is
adjacent to Stewardship Scheme pastureland, which also has
public access. In time, this will provide a diverse
environment, within easy walking distance of both Tickhill and
Harworth.
In total, 2002 broadleaved trees have been
planted, appropriate to the Jubilee. A walk around the wood has
been established, with a glade and bench seats (see adjacent
plan). The wood is already being well used by locals and those
with an interest in nature. A survey is being conducted of the
wild flowers already in the wood and on the bank of the adjacent
river Torne. The soil is varied, including sand, gravel and
warp land. So far over 60 species have been identified. Others
that are appropriate to the area will be re-introduced, with a
record being kept.
An electricity cable crosses the site and
trees for coppicing have been planted under it. To comply with
regulations, these will be coppiced on a 7-year cycle, which
will provide the Group with posts for fencing, stakes for tree
planting and withies for rural crafts.
The Group will maintain the wood until it
is fully established (20 years) and, for this reason, has become
a charity. When the wood matures, the Group will seek to
transfer the ownership to a national, or more permanent local
body for its long term conservation and management.
For fuller details of the Project,
click
here.
To view a collection of photographs of the
Project visit “Gallery” on this website and look under “Tickhill
Today - Places”
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