Come play in the Woodland

31st July 2013
Come Play in the Woodland
Friends of Speckled Wood spent the day with the Ore Church Mice Pre-School in Speckled Wood this morning for two hours. The event was organized by the Ore Church Mice Pre-School in association with the Trust.

The day was rainy but spirits were not dampened and over one hundred people came bringing over fifty small children. The Children seemed to thoroughly enjoy the face painting , biscuit making, cakes , wood skills  wildlife skills and the wildlife watching. Te Gruffulo trail was very popular and many of the children enjoyed the story being read to them throughout the woodland.

Trust providing some thoroughly enjoyable workshops. The Trust wants to thank Anna from the Police , Kim and her colleague from the Wildlife Trust, Rachel and Glen and the Ore Church Mice and all their helpers and supporters, Kelly and her sisters who made smashing cakes and fed us all .

The Trust had a fantastic day and members were worn out but smiling .

The Trust want to thank the people who came for their generous donations which totaled £31-87. Thank you everyone for supporting this event . We hope to announce a further date soon.

Insurance documents arrive

31st July 2013
INSURANCE DOCUMENTS ARRIVE
The Trust received its certificates for Public Liability today and in accordance with protocol is placing them in the public arena. Thank you Sue for sorting out the payment from our account. We are very pleased to have this in place.

Finally the brake on the tractor can be serviced

27th July 2013
FINALLY THE BRAKE ON THE TRACTOR CAN BE SERVICED
This morning the two members who bough the tractor managed to get the wheel of the tractor t service the brake. This had been a difficult job as the wheel was keyed onto the shaft 100mm on making the only way to remove it by using a puller. The Disk brake can now be serviced . New parts have been bought to ensure the brakes are functional.

The Trust clear the Victoria Avenue path entrance

27th July 2012
THE TRUST CLEAR THE VICTORIA AVENUE PATH ENTRANCE
This morning members of the Trust cleared the Victoria Avenue entrance again allowing the pathway to be used once more. This is now looking brilliant for the party on the 31st July 2013 in the Woodland. Sadly the other woodlands paths are not being maintained built by the group that created them . It has been pointed out to this group that these pathways are dangerous and that they  had not been maintaining them. The Trust started to take on some of these repairs last month when it removed a dangerous tyre and corrugated sheet from the upper pathway put in as a step by this group and replaced it with much safer wider steps. Some of the pathways are being neglected and some pathways have now closed off due to vegetation. It is clear that as this group has failed to maintain these pathways that the Trust may have to.

The ponds dam was repaired today.

25th July 2013
THE PONDS DAM WAS REPAIRED TODAY.

The heavy rain that had surged through Speckled Wood had left its toll on the Dam at the top of the pond in the topmost glade. Members of the Trust brought in more stones to rebuild the dam that they was hoping would scarify the pond out.  The Dam will now have to settle so that the water levels balance once more .

The Trust becomes a HMRC registered Charity

Friends of Speckled Wood Management Trust became an HMRC Registered Charity today.

The Trustees welcomed this change to their groups charity status and was very pleased that this will enable them to acquire funding from different areas not as yet tapped.

Pile of Rubbish vanishes from the woodland

24th July2013

PILE OF RUBBISH VANISHES FROM THE WOODLAND.
The pile of tipped rubbish vanished from the top of the wood today. The pile had been stacked by volunteers of the Trust a few weeks back and was heading for a skip that they were hoping to position behind the Salvation Army. A spokesman from the Trust said that the Recyclers are obviously now coming in to the woodland to get the scrap and at least the woodland is clearer.

The Trust meet with the Community Accountancy and Group Support Worker from HVA this morning

23rd July 2013

THE TRUST MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY ACCOUNTANCY AND GROUP SUPPORT WORKER FROM HVA THIS MORNING

This morning the Trust met with HVA again to go through the forms to place The trust as a HMRC registered charity.  Several problems with getting the document to print out was resolved and more information was given to get the paperwork filled in.  The trust hopes to have the rest of the paperwork done this week , but is reliant on getting the documents signed by the committee members. The whole meeting was very successful and the Trust want to thank Hastings Voluntary Action  for their fabulous support. Information was also handed over regarding contacts and insurance companies.

The Trust met with the Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust

19th July 2013
THE TRUST MET WITH THE SURREY AND SUSSEX PROBATION TRUST.
This morning the Trust met with The Surrey and Sussex  Probation Trust to see if they could assist with removing the tipped material from Speckled wood. The meeting was attended by the Trust Chairman and the weather was beautiful. The Coordinator seemed very interested in our project and has agreed to help us with volunteers. This is expected to start around August and specific targets were agreed. The Trust would like to thank The Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust for offering this assistance.

Volunteers clear footpaths in Speckled Wood today

19th July 2013

VOLUNTEERS CLEAR FOOTPATHS IN SPECKLED WOOD TODAY
This morning volunteers were busy clearing the woodland path that comes down from the Village green today. The pathways are being widened from the green down at the moment to allow better access and visibility.

More metal makes it way to the growing pile in Speckled Wood

18th July 2013
MORE METAL MAKES ITS WAY TO THE GROWING PILE IN SPECKLED WOOD.
Last night members of the Trust moved material out onto the upper pathways so that it could be removed in the Morning. We wish to thank Chris & Martin for their help. This morning The Trust was back in the Wood moving this material from the pathways onto that e main pile. The main pile is growing in size now . Thanks to Martin and Bernard for moving this.

Members of the Trust rescue a baby seagull

17th July 2013

MEMBERS OF THE TRUST RESCUE A BABY SEAGULL
This afternoon members of the Trust where notified of a baby seagull trapped in the Japanese Knotweed which had been cornered by a cat in the woodland. The quick thinking members rust to its help with a pair of scissors and gloves to free it.

The baby Seagull was checked over and its wings seemed to be functional before it was released slightly undignified. The seagull was seen to wander off up the road and fly onto a flower border. The members left it there to recoup and to fly off once it had settled down.

Local organisation donates hand made bat;bird and owl boxes

17th July 2013
LOCAL ORGANISATION DONATES HAND MADE BAT BIRD  AND OWL BOXES
This morning a local group the Hastings and Bexhill Wood Recycling Project have kindly donated three different nesting boxes to the trust to be put up in the woodland. These have been gratefully accepted by the trust as they have been beautifully made from totally recycled product. If you would like to know more about this group and their range of recycled projects please contact the Hastings and Bexhill Wood Recycling Project: http://www.recyclingwood.org.uk/ Tel 01424 715566

This evening the Trust have been moving more metal

16th July 2013

THIS EVENING THE TRUST HAVE BEEN MOVING MORE METAL.
More metal has been moved by Friends of Speckled Wood Management Trust to the main pile they have been gathering in the entrance way at the top of the woodland this evening. This is only a small part of the metal remaining in the woodland the Trust contact ed The Ore Centre yesterday to ask which volunteers had been responsible for the work in the garden area Mrs Mags Pawson was kind enough to pass the details on to the Trust members and  the group have been contacted and a site visit will follow shortly. The Trust hope this will help them meet their target this year in time to have Natural England visit to check the site designation and change it if appropriate..