Friends of Holly Hayes Wood

Incorporating Coalville Meadows, Holly Hayes   & Forest Rock Woodlands


Welcome to our homepage

Who are the friends

Friends of Holly Hayes Wood are a community group, comprising of local residents, who aim to set-up a social enterprise business to maintain and improve Holly Hayes Wood, Coalville Meadows and Forest Rock Wood. The group acquired the Holly Hayes Wood and Coalville Meadows sites back in 2008 and intend to acquire the Forest Rock Wood site in the near future. The group want the local community to enjoy the meadowland & woodlands, be able to show their children the bluebells in the spring and walk their dogs safely in the woods for many years to come.

Our purpose is to own, safeguard and improve the areas of Holly Hayes Wood, Coalville Meadows and Forest Rock Wood by demonstrating the value of woodland to the local community and proving the concept of a community owned woodland.

Over time, it is proposed that the wood will become a forest school and a traditional woodland both intertwining, with the forest school aiming to teach young and old about woodlands and, in the longer-term, provide jobs in the local area which support the objectives of a social enterprise business.

It may sound a tall order, but it has been done before and we believe if we all work together we can do it here in Whitwick as well.

Background

Letters sent to local residents

Our project was instigated by North West Leicestershire District Council back in 2006, where residents in the Whitwick area were consulted on proposals to bring Coalville Meadows, Holly Hayes and Forest Rock Woodlands into community ownership.

The development of the woodland as a social enterprise would be similar to a very successful venture at Hill Holt Wood in Lincolnshire. It was hoped that local residents would want to get involved in the project aimed at addressing issues such as anti-social behaviour, litter and tidiness within the woodland.

An additional benefit would be the provision of an important opportunity for working with young people who are excluded or at risk, and for them to acquire skills- based educational opportunities in areas such as woodland management and dry stone walling, growth in their social and personal development and improved prospects of obtaining future employment.

Focus has therefore turned to establishing the social enterprise business, with the immediate priority being to establish welfare and storage facilities on the sites. 

Public Rights of Way

What are public rights of way

England has about 190,000 km (118,000 miles) of footpaths, bridleways, and other rights of way. They are the most important way for visitors to enjoy the countryside, and are also useful for local people to get to the shops, school and work.

Footpath - open to walkers only, waymarked with a yellow arrow



Bridleway - open to cyclists, horseriders and walkers, waymarked with a blue arrow


Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) - open to all walkers, cyclists, riders and motor vehicles, waymarked with a red arrow

The majority of the footpaths in Holly Hayes Wood and Coalville Meadows are Permissive footpaths. We have started to mark these out with a white tipped post. 

Over time, all footpaths will be marked. In the short-term, please try to keep to the obvious tracks and avoid walking across areas such as the bluebell colony.

Website Menu

Links

Grant providers

Project Progress

Our Executive Committee was established in June 2006, with the group agreeing the Constitution shortly after.

Holly Hayes Wood and Coalville Meadows were purchased in March 2008 and many of the priority remedial works have  taken place on the sites already.

A grant application for the purchase of Forest Rock Wood had been submitted, but was unsuccessful, as the grant provider wanted evidence that the social enterprise scheme would work. 

Members Area

Our members have access to their own members area, containing further information on our projects. To access this area follow the link from the menu. 

You will need your login ID and password which should have been provided when you became a member. Contact us if you have mislaid it.

Become a member

If you are interested in supporting our work and would like to become a member,  details can be found on our membership page.

Corporate Membership

Friends of Holly Hayes Wood are pleased to announce that Nicholls Colton & Partners Ltd have become our very first corporate member. 

Read more on our  blog at blogspot.com

Our blog

Check out our new blog (diary) at blogspot.com

Here you will find the very latest information relating to news, current activities and planned events the group is involved in.

Volunteer Sessions

Our regular volunteer sessions are held on the 4th weekend of each month. We hold sessions  on a Saturday from 13:00hrs until about 16:30hrs and Sunday 09:30hrs until around 13:00hrs and we meet up by the pond.

You would be most welcome to join us to undertake some of the smaller remedial work on the sites. 

If you have access to them, the typical tools needed are a small hand saw/bow saw, rakes and spades along with the obvious: warm clothing, suitable footwear and a pair of gardening gloves. If you have a high visibility vest, then bring it along, otherwise we will provide one.

Please contact us for more information and see our Health & Safety policy under the resources section.

Visiting Us

We are trying hard to improve the sites for your benefit and enjoyment, please help us by respecting the following rules when visiting our sites:

- No motorcycles or scramblers
- No fly-tipping
- Clean up after your dog
- Take your litter with you
- Keep to the footpaths
- Do not remove wood or flowers
- No shooting
- No camping
- No horses 
   (except on the public bridleway)

Wilful damage and acts of vandalism will be prosecuted. To report problems or anti social behaviour, please email us.

The Countryside Code

Membership

Friends of Holly Hayes Wood are a non profit making organisation. All work by our volunteers and committee is done on a voluntary basis. No individual receives any financial incentives from us. As a result, 100% of your contribution will be used to support the objectives of the organisation.

If you are interested in supporting our work, or would like to become a member, further details can be found on our membership page.