Terry's Community Wood
Summary:
We want to create a series of small community woodlands around the village. From Nov 2007 to Feb 2008 we planted our first woodland at Goosehams Lane. It will:
- reduce the impact of climate change by absorbing CO2;
- create wildlife habitats;
- provide a source of carbon-neutral fuel;
- be a community amenity, with open public access for use for picnics, school visits, observing wildlife, etc.
Site:
Green Group member Suzanne Ager generously donated a half-acre field half a mile east of the village. We received grants for planting it from Blackford Parish Church (from the collection at an eco-service), Community Champions, Somerset County Council, the Tree Council and the Woodland Trust.
Planting:
Thanks to the efforts of dozens of volunteers, the site is now fully planted with 260 native broadleaved trees. It also has a name: Terry's Community Wood, in memory of Terry Ager who owned the field with Susanne and always wanted to plant a woodland there. We're having a grand opening and picnic on Sunday 15 June from 12 noon - everybopdy is welcome! Susanne has kindly donated a bench which we will install in the circular glade. A bit more work remains to be done and we'll be asking for help. It includes putting drainage pipes in the trenches dug by a digger, laying turf on the bridge and putting in wooden gate posts (a recycled electricity pole donated by Western Power Distribution).
Access:
The wood is a 15-minute walk via public footpath from the centre of Wedmore or you can cycle via Gooseham's Lane – please don't drive down Gooseham's Lane. Ownership: Wedmore Parish Council has agreed in principle to take on ownership of the site so it will be a truly community woodland. The Green Group will have a long-term management agreement with the parish council.
Info:
If you would like to be involved with the maintenance of the woodland, have some land that you would like to donate or simply have a question about it then please contact the two project leaders, Rob Richley on or Kerry Guy on