Herefordshire Sustain Project
This project was born out of a field meeting in the spring of 2001 at Highgrove hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchy of Cornwall (who had recently purchased the Prudential Estate in Herefordshire, which includes 1500 acres of woodland). Since then, through a series of meetings, it has developed a broad base of partners all of whom have remits for sustainability in woodland management.
Current activity of the Herefordshire Sustain Project is as follows:
Health and Well-being and Community
These aims have merged over the years and are mostly now delivered in different ways through the Wye Wood initiative. Around £350,000 has been secured from a variety of organisations since 2003 to pilot and develop the initiative. Project activity is set to continue for another three years, during which time it is hoped that the activity and philosophy will become embedded in local Primary Care Trust provision.
See more details about the Wye Wood Project (click to link)
Education.
Forest Schools
Working in partnership with the Forestry Commission, Wye Wood staff have undertaken their level 3 Forest School Leader training. Specialist work with secondary age students has seen a new development in Forest Schools activity, which has traditionally been more prevalent within primary schools.
14-19 Vocational Course
HSP works with the new 14-19 vocational course agenda with Herefordshire Council.
12 young people attend a course in woodland management one day per week on day release from comprehensive schools across the county.
Industry support – Apprenticeships
Working with The Forestry Commission both nationally and regionally, the Duchy of Cornwall, Hereford Estate, Prior and Ricketts, & the Small Woods Association to develop a National apprenticeship scheme.
The aim is to start a pilot in September 09. Recruitment to this pilot will be via a Work in the Woods week in the Spring of 09.
Orchard Topic Group
Over the 4+ years of the Orchard Topic Groups existence HSP has engaged with 40 different organisations, businesses and individuals all with an interest in orchards. Attendance at meetings has varied according to topic and interest, with the OTG being used as a sounding board for other issues that arise such as the inappropriate management of roadside, hedgerow and field trees. The OTG are keen to continue, as HSP is deemed to be a neutral voice offering an opportunity to discuss openly issues of relevance to the members of the group without prejudice.
Further information about the Herefordshire Sustain Project from the Partnership Officer:
Kate Tudge katetudge@smallwoods.org.uk.
07717 331682
