We are hugely excited that Foundry Wood has been selected as one of 50 woodlands across the whole of the UK to receive support from a new initiative – Making Local Woods Work.
The scheme is designed to support social enterprises to make the most of their woodlands – to help them develop and grow their work. The 50 woodlands involved in the project range from small community woodlands to large scale forestry commission sites.
Foundry Wood applied to the pilot scheme earlier this year after the successful launch of the ‘Ecotherapy’ group last summer. One of ARC’s Directors and Ecotherapy session leader Kath Pasteur said “This is such a great opportunity for us – we’re probably one of the smallest woodlands involved in the pilot scheme – but we’ve got lots going on.”
In August, representatives from ARC (including Kristie Naimo and Teresa Johnston) attended a two day conference at Hill Holt Wood to learn more about the MLWW programme. We will get support and advice from other woodlands can help us develop Ecotherapy at Foundry Wood and other projects they deliver. Teresa Johnston, who established the Ecotherapy sessions at Foundry Wood also attended the conference “It was a hugely inspiring couple of days – we can learn so much from each other and help people to get the most out of their woodlands and being outdoors”.
The support from Making Local Woods Work will run over the next three years.
This is the second nation wide scheme that we have been selected for – earlier this year ARC were one of 80 organisations to receive funding from the DCLG for developing ‘pocket parks’ which led to the creation of the Packington Place Pocket Park in High Street, South Leamington.
