Woodfuel Sessions
The weather has again had some impact on sessions, especially at Foxley. The length and condition of the extraction route forced us into making the decision to extract with the tractor only as the ATV has really been struggling. One thing this has proven is that investing in the tractor has probably saved the sessions at that site as the previous use of two ATVs would not have worked. The good thing is that the tractor can haul far more timber per run, so we are very close to finishing at a similar time, there is always a chance that sessions run on a little longer than previously but at least we are able to run them!
The introduction of the tractor and its associated trailer have meant the loading area has become even more congested. With concerns that this is causing risks to members working and collecting logs we have asked the Loadmasters to manage who and where vehicles and trailers are parked. Each session is different with changes to people in roles, so a general set of rules doesn’t really work. To this end we ask that if you are asked to park in a certain area or join the general parking in the village hall you understand why this to be the case. From the 6th January there is also the added complication of major road works on Linton Heath (the road serving the loading area). These works will close the road starting from the village end at the sharp corner and working towards the loading car park. We have contacted the contractors and will work to minimise the impact on our operation but be prepared to take the long route to collect your logs. To ensure you are fully up to speed with what’s happening please make sure you read the reporting instructions for the sessions you are attending at Foxley.
Finally, we are expecting a visit from Samantha Niblett (MP for South Derbyshire) on Saturday 17th January at Foxley. This is part of our efforts to keep our representatives informed about Heartwood and what we do. Samantha paid a visit in the Autumn but asked to attend a full session so she can get a feel for what’s involved.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
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The Hub Update
We promised an update from the Christmas Market at Rosliston Forestry Centre (RFC) and other seasonal sales in general.
The market was held over a weekend at the end of November and was a great success. We were running a “Do you want to build a snowman” workshop where all the parts were pre-made by the team and with the help of our members were put together by the children. Saturday 48 snowmen were sold and assembled along with a few other sales of Reindeer totalling just over £500 in takings. Sunday was a complete surprise for us with significantly more customers, probably due to the improvement in the weather, but the team were under pressure from the minute the market opened. We very quickly sold all the pre-made kits and had to resort to using the ready build snowmen we had taken to provide more parts. The Heartwood team were fantastic, two new members had a baptism of fire, and everyone was exhausted by mid-afternoon when the pressure eased. This was reflected in the takings as we sold 114 Snowmen and 12 Reindeer, bringing in just over £1,000. All in all, we had a very successful weekend which added to the other considerable sales over the Christmas period. The total income from the extremely hard work of our Hub team was over £4000.
The team at RFC have already asked us to be part of the market again next year, so we will be meeting up with them in the new year to look at ideas. In the meantime, we have been asked to make their wooden Easter Egg shapes which go out to local schools for decorating and then become part of the RFC Easter trail. We will be cutting these out at a TOITW extra session on the 13th January. Please book on if you can help for a couple of hours. It will also soon be nest box construction time, keep an eye out for details.
We just want to thank everyone again who got involved with the Christmas crafts, the income for the group ensure we can continue to expand ideas and facilities and supports the ongoing costs of running Heartwood.
Chris Adams, Kevin Banton, Dave Barker | Hub Team
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Membership Fee Update
At the AGM in September, it was agreed that the membership fee will go up from £30 to £40 from January the 1st 2026. Here is a reminder of the points discussed and agreed at the AGM.
- The last increase was three years ago. Since then, costs have risen due to inflation, higher service and running costs, and the price of essential resources.
- Membership fees provide a reliable foundation that helps us plan confidently for the future.
- Our finances remain healthy, and we are supporting this by continuing to build other income streams such as charcoal sales, crafts, corporate days, and paid work.
- We’re also investing in new machinery to support our activities, which requires both purchase costs and expanded training for members.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
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