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 the Jubilee Wood section in our “Gallery”.