26th Feb 06
A blooming good time in Tongham Community Wood
New and old volunteers braced the icy winds to plant 15 cherry trees, last Sunday 26th February, as the regeneration of Tongham Community Wood took one step closer towards completion. The trees will provide a welcoming entrance into the wood with beautiful cherry blossom in Spring, and as cherries are amongst the earliest fruit to ripen, they are sought after by many species of birds such as bullfinches. The Cherry Tree Walk project was organised by Tongham Wood Improvement Group (TWIG), the local, voluntary organisation who manage the wood.
Alan Eggleton, Project Manager, said
“The cherries create a new habitat area and make a real difference to the entrance into the wood. We could not achieve these and other projects without the time dedicated by volunteers, such as those who turned up today.”
The project was part-funded by Johnson’s Wax. It also received £50 as part of a six-month campaign Environment Agency Action Earth, supported by the Environment Agency. The campaign is organised by the national charity Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and involves over 750 voluntary organisations, businesses and community groups that will be undertaking projects that are of immediate and lasting benefit to the environment.
To find out more about Tongham Community Wood visit www.tonghamwood.org.uk.
If you would like to register your own Action Earth project or think you can come up with a good project idea, then please take part in the campaign. Call the Environment Agency Action Earth hotline on 0121 328 7455.
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EDITOR NOTES
• Photograph by: B Eggleton, (L-R) Mel Smith, Gareth Smith, Woody, Alan Eggleton, Liz Chan, Carl Chadbond, Sheena Chadbond, Peter Smith “Mission completed, TWIG proudly stand along completed cherry tree row”
• Tongham Wood Improvement Group (TWIG) was formed in July 2004 and is a local voluntary group set up to promote and manage Tongham Community Wood. Working under the guidance of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership, TWIG has gradually been improving the area for the enjoyment and well being of the whole community, and also to protect the area from further development for the benefit of the local community. Visit www.tonghamwood.org.uk
• Tongham Community Wood is semi-natural woodland, with old oak stands and coppice stools, and is ideal for dog walkers and children.
• Environment Agency Action Earth is organised by CSV Environment, St Peter’s College, College Rd, Saltley, Birmingham, B8 3TE. 0121 328 7455.
• Action Earth is supported by the Environment Agency
• CSV (Community Service Volunteers) is the UK’s leading volunteer organisation and creates opportunities for people to play an active part in the life of their community through volunteering, training and community action. www.csv.org.uk
• The Environment Agency is the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. Their job is to make sure that air, land and water are looked after by everyone in today’s society so that tomorrow’s generations inherit a cleaner, healthier world. www.environment-agency.gov.uk
• For a list of current projects UK wide visit our website: www.actionearth.org.uk
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