The Silk Wood Community Planting Project (SWCPP)
Together we are creating Westonbirt’s first community woodland. Local community groups and schools are working with us to reforest an area of land which was cleared due to ash dieback.
The sessions
Community groups and schools can visit the Silk Wood Community Planting Project at Westonbirt Arboretum for a variety of activities - from tree planting and tree care, to learning and wellbeing days. All our sessions are tailored to suit the group attending so we take activities at whatever pace and level suits your group. Your visit could include a variety of the activities below:
Tree Care and Maintenance (April-October)
Help us to care for the trees our community groups planted through a selection of tasks. This could involve weeding, laying mulch or surveying the trees to give them the best chance of survival. We provide all the tools and training for these tasks.
Learning and Wellbeing activities (April – October)
These are outdoor activities based within the community woodland and can be run as full day sessions or shorter activities.
- Measuring trees and their carbon - Use our tools and worksheets to learn how we measure the size of trees and calculate the amount of carbon they hold. We will visit some of the largest trees in the arboretum.
- Tree and Flora Identification - Using guides, activity sheets and a guided walk you will have an introduction and an explore of some of our native trees and woodland plants.
- Bio-blitz and Surveys - Using guides and activity sheets we will see how many different species we can spot and identify in the woodland. We will also talk about how we undertake scientific surveys.
- Wellbeing in Nature - Being in nature is good for our health and wellbeing. Through walks, observations and gentle activities we hope to share the benefits of a day in the woods with you. Find out more and see some of our activities here.
- Art workshops – We are working with various community artists to run workshops based on themes related to the project – this includes photography, print making, collage, woodland crafts and more.
Tree Planting (November - March)
Come and help us re-plant the woodland. This includes protecting the trees with tubes and laying mulch around them. We provide all the tools and training for these tasks.
Accessibility and practicalities
These sessions are usually full days outside and the planting site is a 20-minute walk from the main entrance at Westonbirt. We are working to make the project as inclusive as possible. We have spare boots, warm clothes, a toilet on-site and can provide lifts to/from the planting area.
The paths at the planting site are not currently wheelchair accessible but as of October we will have installed a new stone path to enable wheelchair users to access the site. If there is anything else we can do to enable your groups visit please get in touch.
Transport
We have funding to help groups get to the site if that is a barrier - get in touch to arrange this. We are working with groups within a 30 mile radius of Westonbirt Arboretum.
Supply staff
To increase access to our project, we have funding available to pay for a supply teacher to cover any staff who are attending a Silk Wood Community Planting Project event. Please get in touch for more details.
Collaboration
If your group has specific needs or interests you think could be met by the Silk Wood Community Planting Project we'd love to hear from you. We are extremely keen to collaborate with our groups and learn what you would like to see from your community woodland.
To find out more about what to expect on a visit, please download our overview document.
Book your visit
Groups which have already worked with the project can get in touch any time to book in another visit.
We have some limited availability for taking on new community groups and schools, so if you think your group sounds like a perfect fit please get in touch.
To book or for more information, contact us at swcpp@forestryengland.uk
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