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.
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.
