Social Forestry

Woodlands enhance peoples’ lives, health and wellbeing in all sorts of ways – with birdsong, seasonal colour, giving dimension to the view in low-lying landscapes and providing opportunities for exercise and recreation.  The new England Strategy for Trees, Woods and Forests, reinforcing the aspirations of the WMRFF, seeks to improve the local environment, the quality of people’s lives and their appreciation of trees and woodlands through encouraging adult learning and rehabilitation programmes, conservation work and other volunteering – working closer with communities.

Improving access for the hard to reach is a primary driver for seeking to develop outreach and supported visits for groups unlikely/unable to visit and the running of group development projects.  Activities programmes with associated promoting and marketing are likely to be aimed at the socially excluded, offenders, disaffected young people, black minority ethnic groups, the disabled (including people with physical, mental and emotional problems), the elderly, people on low incomes, and mothers and toddlers.  Practical conservation skills, courses and workshops, educational materials and guided talks and walks can help provide high quality learning experiences and the development of closer links with key organisations such as school and community groups, primary health care trusts, day care centres, social services, the probation service and others is of particular importance.

An expert Social Forestry Working Group has been set up to develop and promote social forestry in the West Midlands. The sector has the potential to be a significant contributor to the West Midlands’ social and environmental well-being but needs additional help so that it can contribute more to the local economy as well.
 

Draft terms of reference (in Word format)

 

Social Forestry Good Practice Guide 2010
This document has been written from the collected experience of the West Midlands Woodland & Forestry Forum’s Social Forestry Task Group. The sector has the potential to be a significant contributor to the social, environmental and economic wellbeing of the region, with particular relevance for disadvantaged groups.  The work of the group has shown that more support and help is needed for wood based community projects, and those who work with groups of disadvantaged people.
Read the document (in .pdf format) here.
 

Meetings:
(All notes are in .pdf format)

Minutes of meeting 12th October 2010
Minutes of meeting 15th June 2010
Minutes of meeting 24th February 2010
Minutes of meeting 2nd September 2009
Minutes of meeting 5th June 2009
Minutes of meeting February 2009
Minutes of meeting October 2008
Minutes of the meeting 20 June 2008