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An
Outline of the Jubilee Wood Project 2002
The First
Community Wood for Tickhill
The residents of Tickhill cannot enjoy a
walk in the woods without first travelling outside the
parish. As part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, a town
meeting suggested that grants be sought to establish a wood of
broadleaved English trees, to be called ‘Jubilee Wood’.
 Accordingly,
Tickhill Countryside Group purchased 4 acres of land and
carried out fencing and planting with the aid of grants.
Caroline Flint, MP for Don Valley,
planted the first tree on Saturday 23rd November
2002, during National Tree Planting Week. Local
schoolchildren, cubs and scouts and other volunteers have
continued the planting, this being achieved entirely with
local volunteer labour and was completed by the end of March
2003.
250 of the trees were originally grown
from local seeds by pupils of St. Mary’s School, using kits
provided by Tickhill Countryside Group. The trees have been
staked, with guards and mulch mats for protection. However,
watering of the new trees was carried out during the dry
spring. So far the survival rate is over 95%.
The new wood is at the end of Water Lane/Whinney
Haugh Lane, across the footpath from Tickhill to Styrrup. It
is adjacent to Stewardship Scheme pastureland, which also has
public access. In time, this will provide a diverse
environment, within easy walking distance of both Tickhill and
Harworth.
In total, 2002 broadleaved trees have
been planted, appropriate to the Jubilee. A walk around the
wood has been established, with a glade and bench seats (see
adjacent plan). The wood is already being well used by locals
and those with an interest in nature. A survey is being
conducted of the wild flowers already in the wood and on the
bank of the adjacent river Torne. The soil is varied,
including sand, gravel and warp land. So far over 60 species
have been identified. Others that are appropriate to the area
will be re-introduced, with a record being kept.
An electricity cable crosses the site and
trees for coppicing have been planted under it. To comply
with regulations, these will be coppiced on a 7-year cycle,
which will provide the Group with posts for fencing, stakes
for tree planting and withies for rural crafts.
The Group will maintain the wood until it
is fully established (20 years) and, for this reason, has
become a charity. When the wood matures, the Group will seek
to transfer the ownership to a national, or more permanent
local body for its long term conservation and management.
For fuller details of the Project,
click here.
To view a collection of photographs
of the Project visit “Gallery” on this website and look under
“Tickhill Today - Places”
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