Harmony Woods
Harmony Woods is a 10-year planting project, giving all the children and young people in our community the chance to turn 12 acres of land into a natural urban woodland, increasing biodiversity and providing a wealth of opportunities for learning in and about the environment. These 12 acres sit within a 44-acre wood, all of which is new woodland. The history of the site can be found here.
2017-2019 Harmony Woods project update:
5 more acres added to Harmony Woods in 2018
Biodiversity has been improved by:
Ongoing planting of a wildflower meadow (Funds in 2019 provided by Kew Gardens Grow Wild)
3000 more British native trees added, taking the tree planting total to 6000.
Dipping pond created to facilitate outdoor learning and introduce a new habitat to the wood.
Creation of a second site for use as a tree nursery – Vigo Rd Allotment
Community engagement has been improved by making the wood easier to use for volunteers, school groups and community groups by:
Installing a temporary portable cabin (donated by Taylor Wimpey)
Acquiring planning permission for cabin conversion
Composting toilets funded and in place
Weekly volunteering sessions established
Training volunteers in coppicing (thanks to Trinley Estate ) and use of chainsaw
(Much of the improved community engagement has been made possible by a grant from People’s Postcode Lottery).
We have set up survey transects and carry out wildlife surveys within the wood on a weekly basis (Nature in Harmony project) to monitor species diversity and abundance and to better inform management decisions.
Photo by John Baxter
Our focus for the wood over the next TWO years
With enough funds raised, we hope to:
Continue our beating up programme for 3 years after trees have been planted
Extend management to cover the whole 44 acres of the Diamond Wood
Complete construction of The Cabin
Install information boards and better signage throughout the wood. – including boards that help to increase public understanding of the ecosystem of Harmony Woods, it’s importance and how it is conserved.
Continue planting 1000 more trees every year until 2021
Continue adding flowers to the meadow and create new wildflower corridors within the wider wood.
Use it as a ‘hub’ from which we will provide more community and schools’ events as well as continued volunteering opportunities and new projects.
For Directions to the wood, Click Here
