Event season gets underway at England’s largest community managed woodland.
Press Release 22nd April 2022
Exciting things are happening this spring at Scarborough’s iconic ancient woodland and National Nature Reserve, Raincliffe and Forge Valley Woods.
Raincliffe Wood Community Enterprise are running a tantalising events programme offering something for everyone to engage and inspire local communities and visitors to reconnect with the nature and heritage right on their doorstep.
Thanks to funding from the North York Moors National Park Authority and HEY Smile Foundation the community woodland will launch its Working Woodland Heritage project which aims to support people through green social prescribing. Social prescribing connects people with activities that benefit their wellbeing; activities such as coppicing, traditional heritage crafts, green woodworking and woodland walks, beginning this April.
Tom Webborn, Heritage Crafts Project Officer for Raincliffe Wood Community Enterprise, said: “We really want to be a meaningful service to the Scarborough Community. It’s for anyone who enjoys spending time in nature, has fun learning new practical skills, and has missed meeting up with people over the past couple of years. We expect some referrals, but are also welcoming clubs and societies, family outings, teams of staff who need a day out, and bespoke courses for individuals. The green social prescribing courses are free, and we can even organise transport for you, so please get in touch and get involved!”.
In May the community enterprise will host two guided wildflower walks of the Forge Valley National Nature Reserve ancient woodland in partnership with Yorkshire Coast Nature, giving people the opportunity to improve their knowledge and identification skills along this stunning section of the River Derwent.
In June, ‘The Big Raincliffe Ramble’ event on Sunday the 5th will mark the launch of the Scarborough’s Wonderful Woodlands project celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, with a mass participation nature walk through the community woodland. Raincliffe Wood Community Enterprise is one of 91 organisations across the country to be awarded funding from the Platinum Jubilee Fund, which has been launched by The National Lottery Community Fund to celebrate 70 years of Her Majesty The Queen’s reign, by providing impactful grants to projects across the UK that are helping to bring communities together.
Paul Thompson, Community Woodland Manager at Raincliffe Wood Community Enterprise, said: “We have an incredible woodland heritage in England and particularly in the North York Moors region, but in recent decades we've lost that woodland culture and our connection to nature. We’re bowled over by the support we’ve received from our funders that will help us to support and engage our community with this fantastic green space. After two very difficult years, access to nature has never been more important as we look after our own health and wellbeing. We want to create a programme of fun and interactive events to help people reconnect with their wild side and learn new skills.”
If you would like to get involved with any of these projects, or for more information please contact enquiries@raincliffewoods.co.uk or view our Event Schedule.
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Media contact
Paul Thompson, Community Woodland Manager, Raincliffe Wood Community Enterprise CIC
p.thompson@raincliffewoods.co.uk
mobile - 07946745657
