Green light to go for community woodland

Councillors on Warwick District Council’s planning committee have given their approval to the conversion of land on the former Ford Foundry site into a community woodland - named Foundry Wood, on which volunteers have already been working for the past few months.

This means that environmental group ARC CIC, which is steering the project, can go ahead with work on building a fence along Princes Drive, a compost toilet and outdoor classrooms.

Kristie Naimo, of ARC CIC, said: “We have already made a start on the toilet and have been making the woodchip pathways that will run through the woods.

“We are focusing on getting the pathway done in the first instance as that will allow for access into the site.

“We have had support from businesses from around the area and the Conservation Volunteers and would really like to encourage people who live nearby to come along to a work day.

“It’s quite physical work, but we have been so fortunate because every day we have had up there, it has been sunny.”

Ms Naimo added that there is shelter onsite if the good luck with the weather should run out - and plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits are always provided.

She said: “By the next work day, we will even have a toilet!”

Part of the work volunteers have so far carried out has included the clearing of an area of nettles and brambles and the planting of wildflower seeds, with the intention of attracting butterflies, insects, bees and birds to a wildflower meadow. Birds have already begun to settle in the trees and shrubs on the site.

The next work day will be on Sunday August 19. There is another on Thursday September 6 and the group is hoping to arrange for a work day to take place over the August bank holiday weekend. The work may be difficult for children, but teenagers are welcome to come along.

To find out more and get involved, visit www.foundrywood.co.uk