Oxfordshire Woodland Group

I am pleased to announce (August 2014) that the Oxfordshire Woodland Group has now secured a substantial annual charitable grant that will enable to Group to offer financial assistance to deserving individuals engaged in activities promoting active woodland management in Oxfordshire and adjacent southern home counties.

We will part fund course fees for applicants based in North Hants. / West Berks. / South Oxon. to assist them learn and develop practical woodland and woodworking related skills, including the purchase of recommended course reading books which upon sucessful completion of the course can be retained by the applicant (completion certificate required).

We recommend and will support courses such as The Woodland Heritage "Woodland 2 Workshop" course held in Herefordshire or "Timber-Framing from Scratch" course held at The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum in Singleton, West Sussex. We will also part fund green woodworking courses such as pole lathing, chairmaking, shingle making, hurdle making, thatch spar making, etc.

We aim to support and encourage safe working in Oxfordshire's woodlands and so will part fund courses in tree felling including chain saw certification skills skills and first aid.

We will support or provide specialist courses in hedge laying, green woodworking, bodging and timber conversion, etc.

We hope to be able to encourage and promote local woodland working groups that can provide a range of skills to woodland owners to help kick start the management of small and / or undermanaged Oxfordshire woodlands.

We will support persons enagaged in fungal, wild flower, animal and bird surveys where this work is undertaken over a prolongued period (1 year min) to help build a useful picture and knowledge base about woodland ecology in Oxfordshire that can inform and educate woodland owners and managers. Results to be published on the OWG website.

We do not currently plan to provide finance for major capital equipment investment such as mobile saw, trailers, tractors, etc., since this is already covered by larger grant providing bodies like "Leader" however we are prepared to consider the purchase of tools and equipment by The Group which can be rented for use by fully paid up Group members of long standing.

Ken Hume - Executive Trustee - The Oxfordshire Woodland Group