This month
As the heatwave comes to an end, suddenly it feels like autumn. The nights are drawing in, temperatures are dropping and, for Heartwood, two of our busiest periods are beginning to overlap. We are putting the finishing touches to preparations for the new woodland season while, at the same time, starting to turn our attention towards Christmas. As usual, there’s lots going on at the Hub.
Woodland Wins
The first of this year’s First Aid refresh days took place with a new tutor (Jim Milner). It was a different approach and one I personally found very informative and useful. We filled the spare spaces with members of other local voluntary groups so none went to waste. I’d highly recommend joining one of the two remaining sessions, taking place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September. The dates are all on the booking system.
We have continued to obtain more timber for charcoal wood from a number of sources, it’s amazing how much wood ends up being left in woodlands and in the corner of yards! This coming woodfuel season we will be focusing a great deal more on the extraction of timber for charcoal conversion. With the huge upturn in demand this year we want to make sure we are ready for next spring/summer. We have Andrew Bellamy and Wayne Hawketts keeping a close eye on the stock of timber and they’ll work with the session leads to ensure a steady flow of timber from sessions. There may be slight changes to sessions to help make this happen.
Woodlands in detail special
This month it feels appropriate to give everyone a high-level view of the sites we will be working in this coming season. We will pick up the individual site detail next month.
The most important news is that we will no longer be working in Foxley Wood with the Woodland Trust. After a long and fruitful relationship over many years the constraints of the contract are now beyond our voluntary group. There is too much detail to cover in the newsletter. We’ll be going through these changes, the new sites and the plans for the season in more detail at our AGM on Monday 14th September at 7.00pm. If you have questions about what the new season will look like, please do join us.
That’s the not so good news, but there is lots of very positive news. Foxley was a large and complex site where we had up to 30 members on session. Yes, Foxley has gone, but Heartwood is still busy, expanding into other sites and providing around 1,000 volunteering opportunities across the period Oct-Mar. This year’s plan has new sites together with those we have been familiar with. Here is a brief outline:-
Typical number of members per site session…….
- Donisthorpe Woodland Park – 26 members on session.
- Heart Wood (The Hub) – 16 members on session.
- Bridge End Copse – 12 members on session. (This is a new private woodland)
- Foremark Reservoir – 15 members on session.
- Pick Triangle – 15 members on session.
- Swadlincote Woodlands – 15 members on session.
- Smisby Wood – 15 members on session. (This is a new private woodland)
The operations team along with the session leads are still working through the finer details such as number of chainsaws, extraction method, attendee parking/loading plus lots more. This will all come together in time for the season start with the first session on the 3rd October.
If anyone has any questions feel free to drop me a line, although we will go through a little more detail on the AGM call.
Engaging with Others
“Derbyshire Makes”
The team at the National Forest have asked if we will take part in the “Derbyshire Makes” festival which takes place next April. Working with Lynne Hollingsworth, who will create the artistic part of the event, we will be contributing by explaining the making, science and woodland management aspects of charcoal making. Plans have only just kicked off, but anyone who would like to know more or be involved please let us know.
The Hub
New Shed
In a single session the new shed has been put together and is ready for use. Great timing for the start of the Christmas parts production.
Dragon Watch
It’s all gone a little quiet on the Dragon front! The increased fire risk in woodlands was too great over recent weeks, but now we have had a little rain and we have a steady supply of timber the dragons will be breathing fire again to build up a stock ahead of next year’s demand.
Christmas
We are now starting to implement the “plan”. Places for helping at the Christmas market are available in “shifts” to make member commitment a little easier. Please book on if you can help. There is also a choice of roles from taking the fees, handing out snowman kits, helping make the snowmen and even helping families remember the day by taking photos for them.
Aside from the arrangements for the market days at Rosliston we must produce the kit parts and completed items for sale, so production of parts has started – legs and eyes/noses are building up and activities on the Hub sessions are moving towards getting them ready. Also don’t forget we have Halloween before Christmas, so Besom production has also started. Keep an eye on the Hub posts or ask to join the TOITW WhatsApp group to keep up to date and get involved.
The Christmas production line is underway! Hundreds of eyes, noses and buttons are being painted ready for this year’s reindeer and snowmen.
Towing
Do you have a tow bar fitted to your vehicle? Would you be able to help with logistics for our woodfuel sessions? All our sessions require a tool trailer and generally a further trailer with the ATV/Tractor. We also plan to transport charcoal wood during sessions this season to help with the supply and processing. If you can help spread the load, please let us know.
Chainsaws for sale
We will shortly have several chainsaws for sale. The committee has agreed to renew all our main chainsaws which are Stihl MS261s. We also have a Stihl MS171 which is a smaller saw well suited to cross cutting. Our existing saws will be available to purchase, on the understanding that they are sold as seen. These together with saws that have been donated to Heartwood will be for sale during September. If you are interested, please contact me. Here is a list of what’s available.
- 3x Stihl MS261- Guide price c. £250
- 1x Stihl MS171- Guide price c. £100
- 1x “Essentials Gardening” petrol chainsaw. Brand new in the box, never used. Open to offers
- 2x Small Husqvarna petrol chainsaws. Both donated to the group over recent years. Ask for more detail or to view.
All our Stihl chainsaws are very well maintained and have been cleaned and greased after every session.
2026 Heartwood Annual General Meeting
Our AGM will be held on the 14th September at 7.00pm. The meeting will take place on Zoom, so do please try to join.
This year's AGM will also be our opportunity to look ahead to the new woodland season, including the changes to our sites and the plans for the months ahead. If you want to know what’s happening and why, we’d love to see you there.
Agenda
- Welcome & Apologies
- Minutes of 2025 Meeting
- Chair & Director’s Report
- Treasurer’s Report
- Membership
- The Hub Sub-Committee Report
- Operations Planning Sub-Committee Report
- Election of Officers
- O.B
If you can join, details are in the emailed copy of the news letter or can be found here:
Next month...
- The felling season gets underway
- Christmas projects move on
- Charcoal timber – the improved approach