Park Wood Woodland Festival 2013

The Park Wood Woodland Festival was an excellent opportunity for visitors to learn about conservation groups in their local area and the hard work that volunteers carry out all across Hampshire and in Park Wood. Park Wood is around 8 acres of semi-natural ancient woodland and a remnant of the ancient Forest of Bere. There are plenty of  ancient Yews and fallen deadwood which create a variety of habitats for fungi, insects, woodland flora and other wildlife.
It was also an opportunity for local people to sample local produce, support local craftsmen as well as participate in arts and crafts, guided walks around the wood and fun!

Ancient Yew Tree in Park Wood

The main aim of the festival was to interest local people into the wood and realise that they can visit anytime and join in with community events and volunteer days to help look after the wood and keep it as a place to visit and conserve for themselves and future generations. Another very important aspect was to gauge interest from the next generation to look after their local area, wildlife and environment. Already some local conservation groups in Hampshire have come to an end and this is very worrying. Why are there not enough people being engaged and enthused to help conserve their local environment?

Bluebells coming out especially for the occasion!

The Woodland Festival welcomed around 700 individuals with plenty for all. Theatrical storytelling throughout the wood with a local, young theatrical group was a key event and VERY well received by all! The magical atmosphere of the ancient wood was an ideal setting for drama, storytelling and learning the history and mystique of the wood. Park Wood also has it's own Story Trail which takes you through the magic of Park Wood.

There were plenty of free, hands-on stalls from local (Hampshire/South of England) conservation groups including bat finger puppets and making birdboxes. Demonstrations of green-woodworking were performed  with chestnut coppice as well as a wildlife quiz for all to compete in and win a prize.

The festival would not have been a festival without music and it is with thanks to the ukelele group,  Royal British Legion Band, a local training band, college jazz band and drummers that the festival had such a fun atmosphere!

I was really pleased to see other local conservation groups having so many visitors and conversations with visitors and other stall holders. Especially the new Billy's Lake Project.
They all had really informative, interesting displays with plenty of hands-on, thought-provoking ideas.


And what's this?

Yarn Bombing

Park Wood had a little extra art and craft found throughout the wood on Saturday! Yarn Bombing!

Finally it is without doubt that the logistics of the festival would not have been made possible without the huge helping hands of the local residents...enter help with set up of gazebos, electricity, tables, chairs, stalls, gatekeepers throughout the day, parking-spaces, genuine care and consideration to stallholders as-well as packing-up and of course.. the obligatory reflective celebratory drink at the finish of the day :-)