Annual Report of Trustees: Stoke St Michael Woodland.
Report period: 17/3/2021 to 1/7/2022
Aims and Objectives of Charity: The charity is responsible for the direct management of the area known as the Millennium Wood in Stoke St Michael. It aims to manage the wood safely as a site that enables wide access for the community, enabling health and wellbeing and enhanced education opportunities for the local school and other community interest groups.
Review of Activities:
Following the successful scrub cutting and forest school activities undertaken in the winter of 2019 to raise the profile of the Wood as an asset for the village and local communities, pubic facing activity in the Stoke St Michael Wood was sadly then put on hold due to the covid pandemic. However, throughout the pandemic the woodland group ensured the site could be visited, used, and valued by all. Now that we are out of the pandemic, the group is looking at new opportunities to engage with the public and encourage the woodland to be used further.
Health & Safety:
We continue to monitor the woodland monthly to ensure that all access routes and site furniture (e.g., gates) are safe and secure. There have been no issues identified. Tree safety survey work was also undertaken. No issues were identified within the woodland. It was advised that an Ash Dieback survey in the summer of 2022 (when trees are in leaf) be conducted to assess the prevalence of dieback within the woodland.
Footpath Maintenance:
During 2021 and 2022 the woodland group was able to maintain footpaths through voluntary cutting. This was by a trained operator. We hope to continue this work using trained volunteers and working in partnership with the Parish Council footpaths officer. Western Power (electricity distribution company) have also cut a ride through the centre of the wood below power cables as part of their cable maintenance responsibilities, and this is now extensively used by walkers as well as a range of wildlife.
Improving biodiversity within the woodland.
To improve the age structure of the woodland a number of small trees have been identified for felling in winter 2022. The group have also improved biodiversity in the woodland by seeding parts of the wood with woodland flower seeds and plug plants and planting out small tree species such as hazel, blackthorn. spindle and dog rose to improve the understorey. As well as providing diversity, and food and shelter for wildlife, the new plants will also lock up carbon as they grow, so beneficial to fighting climate change.
Community Events:
The woodland group played a part in the wider communities Queens Jubilee Celebrations in June 2022 with the planting of a village Rowan tree and presentation of a small plaque marking the occasion.