Lanchard Woods gets welcome Spruce-up ahead of Summer Holidays

On 24^th July Making Space for Nature was joined by seven volunteers to spruce up Lanchard Woods in a successful effort of keep the recently enhanced area accessible for the community to se and enjoy, especially over the summer period when access to nature-rich environments can help children make the most of their school holidays.

Lanchard Woods, which is formed from mainly natural woodland regeneration on abandoned fields, is located on the edge of Liskeard, where it can be accessed from either Little Dean, Lanchard Rise or Willow Way.

Following interventions through Making Space for Nature, including improvements of steps and paths, drainage repairs and clearance of scrub and fly-tipping, the woods will be managed for nature conservation, with a varied broadleaved woodland proving a haven for wildlife as well as being a sanctuary for residents to enjoy and explore.

Volunteers got stuck in, using traditional hand methods to clear dominant bracken, opening up the groundcover structure to give space to a larger variety of ferns, mosses and herbaceous species, and reduce smothering of establishing tree saplings. The group made a huge difference in a two-hour stint, remarking on a small commitment as a team can make a big impact.

Community Engagement

A long-term plan for the site sees families and local groups making use of the wood for events and being actively engaged in its management. This is beginning to come to fruition with both the volunteer days and a series of forest school sessions that will be held there over the summer holidays.

The forest school sessions are being run by Lizzie Lay from Sparrows and Sycamores Forest School, who has been successful in receiving funding through the Time2Move initiative, which aims to ensure that all children in Cornwall eligible for Free Schools Meals will be offered activity during the 3 main school holidays.

To book this or other activity sessions please visit: http://www.activecornwall.org/children-young-people-families/t2m-holiday-programme?fbclid=IwAR2F6-EBhuEWfJK42LtszUitrsx96hyf8xARqxI-qDHbWMPmYLg8BuSEXYE

Those eligible for free provision will have a unique code that can be entered in the booking system.