WOODS WALKS AND WILDLIFE (WYRE)

FEBRUARY in the Forestry Commission's Wyre Forest

The Forestry Commission organises hundreds of events each year and welcomes visitors all year round. Next month’s events programme in Wyre Forest offers something to interest adults and children alike.

Wyre Forest Health Walks
Sundays and Tuesdays, February 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24 and 29.
People of all abilities are welcome to join a trained leader for a relaxed guided walk through Wyre Forest. These walks are ideal for improving your fitness, a healthier lifestyle and enjoyment from exercise. The health walks are held all year round. Meet at the Wyre Forest Visitor Centre, at 11am. The walks are free. No booking required.
For information, ring the Wyre Forest Discovery Centre on 01299 266929.

Walk in the Woods
Wednesday, February 4.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Wyre Forest looking for signs of winter wildlife. Meet at the Wyre Forest Visitor Centre, at 10am, for coffee. The walk will last about two hours. Cost: Ł3 per person (excluding refreshments). No booking required.
For information, ring the Wyre Forest Discovery Centre on 01299 266929.

Forest Friends
Every Thursday, February 5, 12, 19 and 26.
Forest Friends is a weekly club for pre-school age children and their parents or carers in Wyre Forest. There is a different fun activity each week. This could be a craft workshop, a wildlife-themed game, or a pushchair-friendly walk. Meet at the Wyre Forest Visitor Centre, at 10am. The activity lasts about an hour. Cost: Ł3 per family. No booking required.
For information, ring the Wyre Forest Discovery Centre on 01299 266929.

Countryside Crafts for Professionals Working with Children
Tuesday, February 10.
Join a special workshop in Wyre Forest designed to help you gain ideas for simple projects to use with young children. Tutor Linda Iles will help participants explore a range of crafts, each using natural materials gathered in the woods. The day is aimed at anyone working with youngsters including teachers, playgroup and other children’s club leaders, and parents. 10am to 4pm. Cost: Ł30 per person. Advance booking is essential.
To book, or for information, ring the Wyre Forest Discovery Centre on 01299 266929.

Jurassic Time Capsule
Tuesday, February 17.
Youngsters can build their own mini-Jurassic landscape in a shoebox on this special half-term activity for children aged five to 11 years old. 2pm to 4pm. Meet in the Discovery Centre. Cost: Ł3.50 per child. Advance booking is essential.
To book, or for information, ring the Wyre Forest Discovery Centre on 01299 266929.

Wildlife Detectives
Friday, February 20.
Join a fascinating walk through Wyre Forest looking for clues to the identities and whereabouts of the woodland creatures. Help the forest ranger look for tracks, food remains, and other signs of animal activity. This is a special half-term activity for children aged five to 11 years old. 2pm to 4pm. Meet in the Discovery Centre. Cost: Ł3.50 per child. Advance booking is essential.
To book, or for information, ring the Wyre Forest Discovery Centre on 01299 266929.

Timber Getting Thinner
Throughout February.
Foresters will be hard at work thinning trees in three areas of Wyre Forest during February. Conifers will be felled in New Parks and Kinlet North while broadleaves trees are being thinned in Earnwood Copse. Thinning involves removing a proportion of the young trees giving the best specimens space to grow on to maturity. Visitors should keep well clear of all forestry operations which will be clearly identified by warning signs and follow any footpath diversions shown.

Wyre Forest is signposted off the A456 Leominster road, two miles west of Bewdley.
Further information about events and forests to visit can be obtained by logging on to the Commission’s website at www.forestry.gov.uk.
NOTE TO EDITORS
For more information ring Richard Boles, Beat Forester, at the Forestry Commission's Wyre Forest office, on 01299 266302, or Liz Bunney, Education Officer, on 01299 266929.

e-mail: richard.boles@forestry.gsi.gov.uk