6 September 2007
“Come and help design our new wood", says the Woodland Trust
Cefn Ila Public Meeting, 6pm, Tuesday 11th September at the Main Hall, Coleg Gwent, Usk
Local people in and around Usk are being invited to come along and help the Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw), the UK’s leading woodland charity, design its new native woodland at Cefn Ila, at Llanbadoc, near Usk.
The meeting starts at 6pm, on Tuesday 11 September, at the Main Hall of Coleg Gwent in Usk. It includes a visit to, and a short walk around, Cefn Ila, for which free minibus transport will be provided. There is NO need to book in advance, but it would help the Trust if those who know they wish to come could let them know in advance by emailing merielrobson@woodland-trust.org.uk or phoning her on (01873) 831858. If anyone wants to attend the meeting, but is not able to take in the walk, they are welcome to come to Coleg Gwent at 7.30pm.
Those coming on the walk should bring stout footwear and, if wet, waterproofs.
The Trust unveiled its plans to create new native woodland at Cefn Ila just a fortnight ago, and already many local people have been in touch to make clear their support. In particular, the Woodland Trust is delighted that the Abergavenny Chronicle has thrown its weight behind the campaign. There is also a special website for people to support the campaign at: www.woodland-trust.org.uk/cefnila
Native woodland creation is one of the Trust’s top priorities. The charity therefore hopes to fund the project through donations from its own members and supporters, through corporate support and partnerships, through woodland creation grants and other methods.
But it recognises that local support is particularly important, too. Although the total cost of the project is £500,000, which includes the initial costs of creating the new woodland and also the costs needed to manage it for the first few years of its life, it has launched a local appeal campaign with the aim of raising £50,000 towards the total cost. In this way, relatively small donations from individuals can “unlock” larger sums by providing matching funding for grant applications from other bodies. So it’s likely that every £1 given by the local community and the Trust’s supporters will help raise a further £10.
The planning of the new wood is being spearheaded by Meriel Robson of the Woodland Trust. She says: “Part of our aim at Cefn Ila is to create the new wood with and for the local community. We want to get local people, including children, involved in planning the wood, and in actually planting the trees. So we’d really love to see as many people as possible at the meeting to make sure that everyone who’s interested has the chance to have an input.”
For media enquiries contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 01766 832563 or 07760 171174 Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
Or Meriel Robson of the Woodland Trust on (01873) 831858 or merielrobson@woodland-trust.org.uk
Or The Woodland Trust Press Office email media@woodland-trust.org.uk or Tel 01476 581121
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 250,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s awareness and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). These include over 100 sites in Wales, with a total area of 1,580 hectares (3,900 acres). It offers free public access to nearly all of its sites. Further news can be accessed via www.coed-cadw.org.uk The Trust adopted its Welsh language name in 2000: “Coed Cadw”. This is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.
