Blog Archives
The Oldest of all New Forest Industries
Charcoal making is the oldest of all New Forest industries dating back to the Bronze Age when it enabled our ancestors to smelt tin and copper to produce bronze. It died out in the late 1800s and experienced brief revivals during two world wars before disappearing from the Forest in the middle of the last century. However, in 2014 a small group of conservationists set up a community woodland project in Pondhead Inclosure, near Lyndhurst and one of their main aims was to restore the largest remaining area of hazel coppice woodland in the New Forest.
The group were determined to manage the woodland on a fully sustainable and self-funding basis and after looking at various options, they decided to re-introduce the oldest of all New Forest industries – charcoal making. Coppiced woodland had produced a sustainable source of timber for charcoal production for centuries and so the group took their lead from the past. Run entirely by volunteers, Pondhead Conservation Trust was set up as a registered conservation charity, and the group are now in their 13th season of making charcoal from their coppiced timber. Over this period they have produced more than 50 tonnes of premium BBQ charcoal that has been sold entirely within the New Forest to cover the group’s annual overheads.
Not of this would have been possible without initial start-up funding provided by grants from the New Forest National Park Authority and the New Forest Trust which enabled the group to buy their first kiln back in 2014. However, with the passage of time and 50 tonnes later, a new kiln was required and the New Forest Trust stepped in again with another grant to supplement funds generously donated by Omaze. Chairman of Pondhead Conservation Trust, Derek Tippetts, commented, “the New Forest Trust took a leap of faith with us at the outset when the success or otherwise of our project was unknown and we are extremely grateful for their continued support”.
Working with Young People
Through the Wildlife Explorers Club and Wildlife Camps, Wild New Forest are empowering and connecting the younger generations with New Forest Wildlife. The New Forest Trust are delighted to sponsor this exciting venture to enable free events designed to inspire young naturalists and subsidised camps giving teenagers hands-on experiences like moth trapping, camera trapping, bird ringing, and talks from leading conservationists.
New Forest Heritage Trust
Love the Forest has awarded a grant to the New Forest Heritage Centre, a museum, gallery and reference library dedicated to sharing the history and traditions of the New Forest.
Located in Lyndhurst, the centre is free to enter and attracts more than 200,000 visitors a year. Its exhibits, collections and education service play a vital role in promoting conservation and educating visitors and residents.
The Heritage Centre also houses the Christopher Tower Reference Library which boasts one of the most comprehensive collections of material about the New Forest open to the public, including sections dedicated to individual towns and villages.
This grant will allow the New Forest Heritage Centre continue its vital work following a very difficult period where they have had to close due to lock down restrictions.
The New Forest Non-Native Plants Project
Love the Forest has awarded a grant of £5,000 to assist with work to remove invasive plants in the New Forest to help wildlife and waterways thrive.
The grant has been awarded to the New Forest Non-Native Plants Project (NFNNPP), which works to restore and conserve the Forest’s special habitats by stopping the spread of invasive non-native plants and raising awareness about the damage they cause to the environment and the economy.
The NFNNPP is a partnership project hosted by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and currently supported by the Our Past, Our Future Landscape Partnership Scheme, a National Lottery Heritage Fund scheme led by the New Forest National Park Authority, which ends this year.
It works with local communities and organisations and is supported by hundreds of volunteers who have helped remove huge swathes of invasive non-native plants such as Himalayan balsam, from New Forest riverbanks, allowing wild flowers to flourish.
Pennington Common Interpretation Boards
We have awarded a grant to Lymington and Pennington Town Council to proved funding towards installing four interpretation boards at Pennington Common.
The key aim is to educate new and existing users to the Common about its unique status as Natural England’s SSSI while also being part of the New Forest National Park.
The Boards will contain information to educate visitors about the important history of the common and commoning, and to promote the protection of unique wildlife, flora and fauna that can be found on the Common and remind visitors about the importance of preserving and caring for the site when visiting.
