London Region

 

Covering Greater London.

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We work to support tree and woodland management in the Greater London area. For woodland owners and managers we offer advice and support through the London Woodland Grant Scheme, previously known as the London Block Grant. The LWGS previously covered ten East London Boroughs and the City of London but from the 1st of April 2008 it has been extended to cover the entirte Greater London area. More widely, we work in partnership with a range of national, regional and local bodies to promote and secure the benefits which trees and woodlands offer to London. These benefits include a place for recreation, a place to observe wildlife, a source of woodland products and a contribution to the landscape whether this is in local woodlands or in parks and residential streets.

Our work is largely influenced by the London Trees and Woodland Framework. The aims and objectives of the Framework are overseen by The London Trees and Woodlands Implementation Group and managed by the London Trees and Woodlands Framework Manager  

If you are interested in the trees and woodlands  in the area where you live and want to obtain a local contact for more information look up your local tree officer at the  London Tree Officers Association website.   

What's new:

1. Right Trees for a Changing Climate

We need to ensure that the trees we are planting now in London and other urban areas will thrive in the face of a changing climate and also help us cope with the predicted warmer temperatures and changes in weather patterns we will experience for the rest of the century. A database has been prepared by the Right Trees for London's Changing Climate Project which will enable planners, landscape designers, developers and other professionals to decide what types of trees are suitable for different circumstances. It should be used in conjunction with sound arboricultural advice.
 
The underlying database was prepared by Forest Research in collaboration with The Greater London Authority, the Forestry Commission, Natural England, The Tree Council and the Royal Horticultural Society. The database lists the characteristics of tree species that will be suitable for the predicted climatic conditions that London and other urban areas will experience for the rest of this century.

Right Trees for a Changing Climate website [opens in new window]

2. New Standard Woodland Costs for London

In its role of promoting better woodland management in London, the Forestry Commission has recently produced a new set of standard costs for woodland operations in the London area. These costs are designed to give woodland owners in the Greater London area a better idea of the type of work they can obtain grant aid for under the new London Woodland Grant scheme (LWGS). It will also assist them in deciding how much grant they could be eligible for. This scheme replaces the old Block Grant scheme and covers all  London's local authorities

 If you would like more information about a current scheme or application please contact the Commission's delivery agent for the scheme Groundwork East London by getting in touch with Hannah Duckworth on 020 7922 1230.

3. Capital Woodlands Project.

Capital Woodlands is a 3-year London Biodiversity Partnership project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The project aims to raise appreciation of London’s woodlands and increase public benefit and participation by undertaking access, biodiversity, community and training work both in six ‘flagship’ woodlands and throughout the capital.

Key areas of work are the dissemination of good practice in the management of London’s woodlands, training in woodland management skills, strengthening links between woodlands and communities, supporting the educational use of woodlands in London, and the support and recruitment of volunteers.

The project is managed by Trees for Cities who work in partnership alongside the Greater London Authority, Forestry Commission, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), the Peabody Trust and the London Boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Haringey, Merton and Redbridge. You can find out more about the project at:

www.capitalwoodlands.org.uk

Ways to Get Involved:

Training

Woodland Management Training with Trees for Cities

Trees for Cities offers an eight-week course in Woodland Management through Capital Woodlands.  The course is based at the King Edward Memorial Park in Shadwell, E1, but includes a number of site visits to woodlands across London.

The Woodland Management course offers a fantastic opportunity to play a pivotal role in maintaining London’s beautiful woodlands. The course covers all aspects of woodland ecology from brushcutter operations to habitat management. Emphasis is placed on the importance of opening up woodlands to the general public, as well as on sustainable management of woodlands through the use of forestry products.

Trainees gain qualifications in the following arboriculture units certified by NPTC:

CS30 - Chainsaw maintenance

CS31 - Felling of small trees

CS38 - Tree climbing and aerial rescue

In addition, trainees are taught to identify native British tree species, and take part in a LANTRA verified tree-surveying day, learning to identify trees that need work in order to grow healthily.

 Trees for Cities runs three Woodland Management courses over the year in January, June and October, with four people on each course. You can start after an initial consultation with the trainers and need no previous experience. In fact, the courses are aimed at people who currently have little or no understanding of environmental issues and thus would benefit the most from the course. Job prospects are high given these qualifications and Woodland Management itself is seen as a new area of growth.

Short Courses in Woodland Management with BTCV

BTCV offers a range of short courses in woodland management through Capital Woodlands. These include Woodland Plant Identification, Summer and Winter Tree Identification and practical skills in woodland management such as Hedge Laying, Coppicing and Path Construction.

Training is available for both beginners and professionals, and covers a wide range of subjects, from learning specific practical conservation skills to developing personal skills and knowledge. There is a range of courses for everyone. Once you have attended a BTCV training course, you are automatically eligible to join the BTCV Supporters Club, a huge network of people working together to protect the environment around the world.

Cost per day (incl. VAT)

Business rate £170

Standard rate £90

BTCV Members, volunteers and local groups £45

Unwaged volunteers not in receipt of benefit £22

People in receipt of benefit £15

For more information or to make a booking, call 020 7843 4282 or email

london-training@btcv.org.uk

 

If you would like to find out about other BTCV training courses go to

 www.btcv.org.uk.

Volunteering

Volunteering for woodland conservation work is the ideal way to learn new woodland management skills whilst having fun, getting fit, meeting people and doing something worthwhile all at the same time. Volunteering in London gives you the opportunity to both discover some of the smaller, less well-known woodlands of the capital, and help transform them for everyone to enjoy.

There are numerous opportunities to become a woodland volunteer in London:

BTCV

Through Capital Woodlands, BTCV London offers a whole host of woodland volunteering opportunities to all Londoners. BTCV projects have a community focus, connecting people with places and everyone is welcome to join.

Woodland volunteers are able to give up as much or as little of their time as they can or want to. You don't need to have any prior experience, as all training and tools are provided. Many volunteers use the BTCV experience to enhance their career opportunities within the conservation and environmental sectors, some even going on to work for BTCV. Many others just enjoy the experience of getting outdoors, taking practical action to help improve the environment and staying healthy.

To find out more about volunteering in London with BTCV from our quarterly magazine, 'Environments for All', please call our regional headquarters on 020 7278 4294 or email us at

london@btcv.org.uk.

Other organisations that offer opportunities to volunteer in woodland conservation in London include:

London Wildlife Trust

enquiries@wildlondon.org.uk 

Trees for Cities call 020 7820 4420 or email

katie@treesforcities.org

CSV call 020 7278 6601 or email

information@csv.org.uk

Alternatively try your local borough or woodland Friends Of group.

Events and activities

Woodland events and activities take place throughout the year in London and are linked to the seasonal changes that happen as part of the seasonal cycle.

Autumn and winter are busy times for conservation activities with events often centred on tree and hedge planting. Halloween and Christmas festivities celebrate the dark evenings and low sun, helped along by the pleasures of gathering plentiful armfuls of fungi, nuts, seeds and berries as well as a glass or two or mulled wine.

Spring and summer woodland events make full use of the dappled sunshine with carnival-style activities such as face painting, willow-weaving and other creative bursts of energy!

Capital Woodlands offers a range of events and activities for local people and schools at ten sites across London:

Birch & Rowdown (Croydon),

Claybury (Redbridge),

Coldfall (Haringey)

Morden Park (Merton)

Peabody Hill (Lambeth)

Scadbury Park (Bromley)

Abbey Hill Millennium Park (Bexley)

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park

Wormwood Scrubs (Hammersmith & Fulham)

Sam Phelps Recreation Ground (Hillingon)

The Capital Woodlands webpage provides more information on these woodland events and how to find out more about woodland events local to you (www.treesforcities.org).