Newsletter #14a
December 2020
Winter is well and truly here, with a dusting of snow on high ground. Through the woods the purple shimmer of birch twigs, the deep green of the yew, and the red shine of the holly berries are just as festive as any tinsel or shop decor.
We’re still feeling a warm glow from this years community woodland Gathering, which for the first time we held virtually. We had a fantastic three days of talks, discussions and demonstrations on topics ranging from wild woodland products to the climate emergency with over 240 people taking part. There was a real feeling of cooperation and mutual support through these difficult times.
If you’re a member of Llais y Goedwig this is your Newsletter! Contact us if you have anything you want to be featured.
Llais y Goedwig Gathering 2020 – Report
Find out about this years community woodland gathering, packed with useful links and contacts, plus a focus on what we learnt and how we are going to take forward the issues, ideas and priorities that emerged.
This has spurred us on to reanimate our ‘Voice of the Woodlands’ YouTube channel where we’re busy uploading extracts from the Gathering.
First sites announced for National Forest – “Among very best woodland in Wales”
Fantastic that Coed y Bont and Spirit of Llynfi Woodland community woodlands have been chosen to be part of the National Forest. There will be more opportunities to get involved, and to quote Iolo Williams “…this will be our National Forest – I would encourage all those with an interest to get involved and be a part of its creation as the project progresses.”
Coed Blaenwern
Coed Cadw are inviting the local community to adopt a wood on the outskirts of Lampeter: an opportunity for a community woodland group to manage their own woodland for the benefit of people and wildlife.
Advisory Note – Working with the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources.
The latest Llais y Goedwig Advisory Note has been written to help groups better understand the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act goals and the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources principles. It suggests ways that you can incorporate them into a management plan which you can use to deliver your group’s activities, and when applying for funding.
This month we have two fantastic blogs to read, so grab a cuppa and settle down by the fire for:
- ‘Building a roundwood workshop’ with Coppicewood College and Cara Wilson
- ‘Your Guide to Collecting Tree Seeds’ with the Dewis Gwyllt project.
Communities Creating Christmas
The Allan Shepherd from the Wales Community-Led Housing Network extends you a very cordial invitation to attend their Communities Creating Christmas network event on December 17th. As part of the festivities please bring a digital gift to share with the network. A recipe, a piece of advice, a game to play, music or song, a policy or an idea that has made your housing group progress or your life better.
Coppice Crafts with the Woodland Skills Centre
Saturday 16th – Sunday 17th January 2021
Willow weaving and management, habitat surveys and more! Plan your 2021 training programme with a range of courses at Denmark Farm
Project management
25, 28 January & 1 February 2021
This course is for anybody who has responsibility for developing and managing projects as part of their everyday work.
Read about further work on birch tapping and processing with some new funding we’ve been able to access through the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) programme managed by Farming Connect.
Watch a recording of the presentation about this from the Gathering.
Useful Woodland Links
www.llaisygoedwig.org.uk
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
www.makinglocalwoodswork.org
www.coedlleol.org.uk
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Unit 1
Dyfi Eco Parc
Machynlleth
Powys
Wales
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