WOODBANK WOOD SCOOPS FORESTRY AWARD

Woodbank Wood in Stockport won a silver award in the prestigious Royal Forestry Society’s – Excellence in Forestry Awards 2013.

Stockport Council’s Woodbank Wood, which was entered in the Urban Forestry category in the North West awards, runs adjacent to the River Goyt from Woodbank Memorial Park near Stockport town centre towards Poise Brook and Chadkirk.

         Key features of the Council’s successful entry for
         Woodbank Wood included:

•          Creation of a community orchard connecting
           Woodbank Park and Woodlands Park;
•          Work of ‘Stockport Growing in Partnership’ and
           tree wardens in engaging volunteers particularly
           in relation to the orchard;
•          Strong partnership working between the Council
           and community groups in managing Woodbank
           Wood, in particular a project with the Friends of
           Woodbank to improve access through the Local
           Nature Reserve.

Woodbank Wood was praised by the judges for its mix of formal and informal trees and woodland and the “very positive” approach to multiple use, biodiversity and community participation. The judges added: “The Friends group is very active and the range of organisations and groups that use and work in the park is amazing. A community orchard is being established and we were impressed how many features and assets of the park are inter-linked.

Councillor Stuart Bodsworth, Executive Member for Communities and Sustainability, said: 

“We are delighted that Woodbank Wood has won this award; it reflects the hard work put in by local volunteers and the Council’s Greenspace team who manage the site.”

A member of Stockport Tree Wardens, added:

“It’s been a fantastic learning experience which has resulted in more public interest in Stockport’s woodlands and orchards”.

Keith Jones, Area Director, the Forestry Commission, said:

“The wood is an excellent example of how many benefits trees and woodlands can bring to an urban area. As well as transforming the local environment and biodiversity, the wood is already bringing local people together, and I’m sure it will offer residents a place for recreation, exercise, relaxation and community activity for many years to come.”

The awards, held in association with Forestry Commission England, will be presented at an event at Wythenshawe Park in Manchester in July.