Millennium Wood

Millennium Woodland Penwith Environmental Network (PEN) has been working successfully with Penwith District Council (PDC) on the Millennium Woodland. PEN manages the Millenium Woodland in a sustainable way with the emphasis on access for members of the public, through path creation and upkeep and reducing invasive species such as bramble and thistle, and enhancing the site for increased wildlife diversity through the creation of different habitat areas and planting of native species.

The project is minimally managed for maximum wildlife value although any non native/invasive species are managed appropriately. The management group are keen to promote sustainable management which would include the use of pesticides only in cases where the species was considered dangerous to the project. An example of this is the treatment of Japanese knotweed at the site. Building networks with other groups in the area is an important element to ensuring the longevity of the project as common objectives and good working practice can be shared. Any member wishing to undertake training will be given the opportunity to do so. Also all decisions and actions will be accounted for by the management group which is open to all therefore creating a sense of ownership within the community which should form a solid foundation for future continuance.

We successfully applied for a grant for British Trust for Conservation Volunteers for £10,000 in 2004.

Within the woodland management period many activities have taken place.

*Day course on Woodland Management on the land. The course included suitability of trees for the site, choosing trees to be thinned, raising the crowns and wildlife value of different trees.

*A class from Alverton School came to the woods to see what we were doing. We took them on a walk around the wood- one PEN volunteer to each group of ten children showing them different trees and flower species.

*Catalogue of tree species started particularly in the form of photographs for the Britain in Bloom competition and for library exhibition spring/summer ’04.

*Creation of paths, bramble clearance, raising the crowns. Over 1000 tree guards were removed from young trees. Catalogue of wildflowers started to see whether we needed to use funding to plant different suitable native species and to survey the woods for better local knowledge.

*We had two special weekends to build the tree nursery, which included rabbit proof fencing and a gate, and a Willow bog (a lavatory system using willow that flourish on absorbing the nutrients for human waste). We planted 100 Holm Oak acorns which unfortunately got eaten by mice or voles.

Registered with Penwith Community Development Trust to bring volunteers up to the wood. We need your help to keep this project running. If you want to volunteer please contact us Millennium Woods has been funded by BTCV People and Places.