Woodland volunteers win Royal Forestry Society award

A VOLUNTARY group which has helped to restore a woodland near Lyndhurst has won a top accolade from the Royal Forestry Society.

Pondhead Conservation Trust scooped the community woodland award at a ceremony held in Windsor Great Park.

Run entirely by volunteers, the trust was formed in 2014 to continue the restoration of 78 hectares of Crown woodland. Last June the organisation also received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which is regarded as the MBE equivalent for voluntary groups.

The trust manages the woodland on a fully sustainable basis by using the timber they cut during the autumn/winter conservation and restoration programme to produce barbecue charcoal during the spring and summer, which is sold entirely to outlets within the New Forest.

The Royal Forestry Society, which was formed in 1882 and received its royal charter in 1905, is the largest and longest established education charity promoting the management of woods in the UK.

Judges were impressed by the way the trust brings history to life and adds value to the site by producing the charcoal and offering courses such as chair making. They also praised the programme of habitat recovery, new cultural and wildlife values and the way in which the volunteer group is providing learning opportunities for others.

A trophy and cheque for £500 was presented to Pondhead Conservation Trust’s co-founders, Derek Tippetts and Dave Dibden (pictured).

Derek said: “We are extremely proud and honoured to receive this prestigious award. Since 2014 our volunteers have contributed over 18,000 hours to our project, and this is a fitting recognition of all their hard work over a variety of year-round tasks.”

For more information about the work of the trust, or to volunteer, visit www.pondheadconservation.org.uk