Forest news
Wood pasture, part of Forestry England's Southwick Wood
News from Rockingham Forest
Here is a selection of news, national and local, that has particular significance for Rockingham Forest.
Two sources of funding for local groups
26 May 2025
The latest round of capital grant funding for local communities in rural North Northamptonshire opened last week. Groups planning Parish Nature recovery projects, community orchards, local green spaces etc could receive capital grants up to £10,000. But be quick - applications close 23rd June.
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The Augean Community Fund is also open for applications. This can provide both capital and revenue funding for groups within 10 miles of the Augean landfill sites in the north of the forest area. Applications close 16th June. Details here.​​
Lime bast collection made difficult by drought
20 May 2025
Some of the Easton Hornstocks Coppicing Group gathered to strip some bark from lime trees this week - part of their project to resurrect the old craft of making cord from lime bast. See this blog article and this and this. Usually at this time of year, with the sap rising, it's possible to peel the bark quite easily from the main trunk - but not this year! The continuous weeks without rain have caused the sap to stop flowing, despite the lime trees having very deep roots.
The group members were joined by other coppicers from across Rockingham Forest who had come to see for themselves the process of stripping the bark. A small amount of was taken away to be "retted" - soaked in water for six weeks,- the next (very smelly!) stage of the cord making process.
Our council's take on No Mow May
16 May 2025
We are delighted that North Northamptonshire Council is continuing with its adoption of No Mow May, part of its excellent Pollinator Strategy. Verge cutting is being kept to a minimum alongside the rural roads and other strategic areas. They cut only a 1.2 metre wide swath so that most of the verge area is left uncut behind. This leaves a permanently untouched habitat for nature. You can read all about this policy here. There are onward links to the council’s key commitment to a ‘greener and sustainable environment’
A grove of Redwoods in Wakerley Woods
11 May 2025
We are very grateful to Jay Naylor for drawing our attention to a grove of sixteen Coast Redwoods he has found growing in Wakerley Woods. Redwoods are some of the fastest growing trees in the world and it is quite remarkable to find them growing and reproducing in Rockingham Forest. Jay has made an excellent 7-minute video of his find which is highly recommended.
If the video inspires you to go and find the trees in Wakerley Woods, the
what3words location is (approximately) ///unions.encloses.sprinkler. You can find more of Jay's videos about Redwoods here.
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Changes at Butterfly Conservation
9 April 2025
We have been very sad to hear that Butterfly Conservation's habitat creation work in Rockingham Forest is coming to an end. Since 2017 that work has been carried out with enthusiasm and devotion by Susannah O'Riordan, and she will be very greatly missed.
A very significant part of Susannah's work has been to lead the reintroduction of the Chequered Skipper butterfly to Fineshade Wood and elsewhere, so it was good to hear yesterday that Jamie Wildman has been appointed to an ecologist's role, particularly to carry out a continuing study of the species here. (You can read Jamie's blog about some of BC's work in Rockingham Forest here.)
Jamie will be coordinating volunteers wishing to help with Chequered Skipper timed counts at Fineshade in May and June. If you would like to help, please email him at jwildman@butterfly-conservation.org.
Community Orchards on The One Show
3 April 2025
When the Gretton Community Orchard was planted earlier this year the BBC came along and the film they recorded was shown on The One Show at 7pm on Thursday 3rd April. Well worth a watch on the iPlayer (it's the first item on the programme). Some of the local people were interviewed as planting was taking place and there is also a section about an established community orchard in Kettering.
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Read more about the Community Orchards that have been planted across the Rockingham Forest
10 years of environmental improvements
15 March 2025
In April King's Cliffe Wildplaces will be celebrating a decade of managing the village environment for biodiversity, and enabling access to wild places for the community. They have planted 450 trees and an acre of wildflower meadow on the village field to establish a wildlife corridor, created the ponds and wildlife area on Maltings Green, and had a major role in the biodiversity planning of Millennium Wood, Kings Cliffe Meadow, the Common and King's Cliffe Active. A major acheivement was clearing and creating the 2-mile railway path described here.
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How to celebrate all this? - an Anniversary Workparty of course! (followed by some refreshment and reminiscence in the pub. Everyone is welcome and full details can be found here.
Beavers are back in the Nene Valley
16 February 2025
Our partners the Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants announced this week that eight beavers have been released into a fenced enclosure at the Nene Wetlands. Matt Johnson, Conservation Manager for the Trust says: “Beavers were last seen in Northamptonshire in the 16th Century and this is the first step of their return to our countryside. I can’t wait to see how they will respond to their new home, but also how the environment will respond to them. Beavers are ecosystem engineers, they will gnaw trees and plants and help transform the site into a more diverse habitat where other species can thrive." Lots more detail and video here.
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Update 28 February. The Government announced today that it will be possible to release the beavers into the wild under a new licensing scheme. "This is an incredibly exciting moment, a real landmark for nature recovery in England," said Tony Juniper, the head of Natural England.
Flood control measures for Brigstock village
4 February 2025
Two hectares​​ of farmland near Brigstock are to be turned into a wetland wildlife habitat in an attempt to reduce the threat of flooding from Harpers Brook in the village of Brigstock. This is known as Natural Flood Management (NFM) and is being carried out by Resilience and Innovation Northants (RAIN) with direct funding from central government. You can read about it on the BBC News website or here on the RAIN website. Permission has been given for the work to be carried out later this year. Similar work was carried out earlier this winter along the Willow Brook and there is an opportunity to visit that site for a guided tour in April.
And they're off! ... 21 communities are planting orchards
28 January 2025
The Community Orchard Project took a giant step forward today as folks from schools, parish councils and community groups took possession of the fruit trees that will be going into the ground across the area. A massive 720 trees will be planted - pears, cherries, plums, quinces, medlars and, of course, lots and lots of apples. The project is being run by North Northants Council with funding from the King's Coronation Living Heritage Fund. Key to the project's success has been the boundless enthusiasm and expertise of Adam Cade of the Stamford Orchard Group, shown in the picture offering last minute tips today. Read much more about this project here.
A ten-year plan for Fermyn Woods
20 January 2025
What do you think of the way Forestry England manage our local woodlands? Here's a chance to have a say as they are drawing up a Forest Plan for the next 10 years for the Fermyn Woods - that includes the woods of Harry's Park, Mounterley, Cherry Lap, Southey, Bearshanks, Wadenhoe, Titchmarsh and Lilford. Follow the link for the draft plan, maps, fascinating detail and an online questionnaire. If you care about our precious woodlands surely it's worth reading the plan at the very least? The consultation closes 15th February.​​
