The 3 Village Woodlands Group
was born out of increasing concern about the steady losses of woodland to development. Its object is to acquire a piece of land which will become Community Woodland accessible to the public. The group will involve all age groups: children at Trimley St. Martin School who will plant and nurture many of the trees, their teachers and parents and everyone else in the villages of Kirton, Falkenham and Trimley St. Martin who would like to be involved. This is a long term project to be handed on to future generations so the involvement of our children is crucial.
The group is affiliated to the Green Light Trust which has facilitated 34 Community Woodlands in East Anglia in the last 15 years. Their success has been built on 4 key elements:
Children – motivating children and young people to become responsible custodians of the environment
Community Spirit – galvanizing community spirit through long-term empowerment
Wildlife – building wildlife habitats to increase bio-diversity
Global Kinship – forging environmental links with communities overseas
What about our 3 Village Woodlands Group project?
A Steering Group has been formed. The officers elected for the Steering Group.
Group Chairman : Stephen Harvey
Vice Chairman : vacancy
Secretary : Alison Mellors
Treasurer : David Vickers
Schools Link : Jo Matthews
The Affiliation Agreement has been signed by Stephen Harvey for the Group and Grenville Clarke for the Green Light Trust. The Green Light Trust handed over a cheque for £300 to the Treasurer.
The groups name has been decided “3 Village Woodlands Group”.
Children
Local children and young people will be encouraged to be involved as fully as possible with active participation.
Community
All sectors of the community will be encouraged to participate and local expertise and skills will be used and shared wherever possible.
Management
A Steering Group (SG) will manage the project and all risk associated with it in accordance with the Constitution.
Ownership
The SG will manage the land, which is the subject of the project for the benefit of present and future generations.
The SG will endeavour to secure ownership of the land or to acquire legal rights therein for the community.
Woodland Type
Only native and naturalised trees and shrubs will be planted, to enhance the traditional landscape and provide a rich haven for wildlife.
Sustainability
The project will strive to become fully sustainable:
• Environmentally – by using safe traditional silviculture practices, a ‘no chemical’ policy, environmentally friendly materials and structures sympathetic to their surroundings.
• Socially – by making the project enjoyable, engendering community spirit and making sure that knowledge and skills are passed.
• Financially – by keeping administration simple, ensuring that skills needed are developed within the community.
Global Kinship
An environmental link will be made with a community from somewhere else in the world.
The 3 Village Woodlands Group From Seed to Tree programme?
It is an opportunity for the children at Trimley St. Martin School and others to contribute to the planting and management of new woodland in communities that are working with Green Light. It can begin with pupils of any age. It offers a curriculum-linked programme of activities that take place both inside and outside the school building. For older students it offers an extra-curricular focus for groups such as environmental clubs or school councils. It is an annual programme of activities that can repeat itself every year.
How can it benefit Trimley St. Martin School?
By supporting national curriculum work across all key stages. By involving pupils in improving their local natural environment & increasing biodiversity. By creating strong links between the school & the community. By educating for global citizenship through overseas links.
How does it work?
You choose how much involvement the school deems appropriate to the school. This process takes place with an appointed School Link person who will be Jo Matthews from The 3 Village Woodlands Group. A Green Light Trust leader will work as mentor to the Teachers and the School Link during the first year or two.
Global Kinship?
The environmental focus – the fundamental importance of the natural world is a knowledge shared by all indigenous peoples. From this woodland link it also provides a powerful focus for communication beyond the divisions of race, religion and politics. The 3 Village Woodlands Group is exploring a possible link with Sri Lanka.
Community benefits
Global Kinship adds a whole new dimension of interest, vibrancy and awareness to a local project and its wider community. It can attract new members, provide life-long learning and enrich project celebrations and events.
Educational benefits
Global Kinship provides a dynamic opportunity for Trimley St. Martin School pupils at all Key Stages to study Citizenship and Education for Sustainable Development through mutual learning with a real-life partner. It also fulfils the government’s guidelines for overseas partnering.
Global benefits
It provides an important force towards greater cross cultural awareness, international understanding – and yes, world peace.
What do we have to do in the future?
Search for Land - Project Launch - Obtaining Funding - Spread the News - Build a tree nursery - More volunteers of all ages - Plant your Community Woodland - Maintain the woodland
