ABOUT US

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Bringing the landscape back to life

Since 2007 we have been working to conserve the Wyre Forest and its variety of habitats, including its species rich wildflower meadows, traditional orchards and wood pasture.

We work in close partnership with the Guild of St George, Natural England, Forestry England, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, The Woodland Trust, Butterfly Conservation and local landowners.

Our team of around 40 dedicated volunteers help us carry out important conservation work and care for our herd of 50 pedigree Dexter cattle that carry out an extensive conservation grazing programme.

ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY

MARGARET TUNSTALL

MARGARET TUNSTALL

Operations Manager

DEBBIE BLADES

DEBBIE BLADES

Office Manager & Company Secretary

SALLY PENDERGAST

SALLY PENDERGAST

Farm & Land Manager

KATE QUINTON

KATE QUINTON

Community and Volunteer Officer (Maternity Leave)

DAISY HAYWOOD

DAISY HAYWOOD

Volunteer & Community Development Officer

MATT COPEMAN

MATT COPEMAN

Volunteer & Community Development Officer

RICHARD CHANNING

RICHARD CHANNING

Woodyard Manager

SEE WHAT WE’RE DOING ON INSTAGRAM

wyreclt

RUSKIN LAND THROUGH TIME In 1871, George Baker,

RUSKIN LAND THROUGH TIME

In 1871, George Baker, a Quaker businessman and local politician, offered John Ruskin some land in the Wyre Forest in order to put into practice his vision for a rural utopia. Early followers of Ruskin responded to his call for workers on the land, and established smallholdings here. This included St George’s Farm, which was built in 1908, and is where the Wyre Community Land Trust are now based.

#wyreforest #woodlandmanagement #johnruskin #localhistory #ruskinland

This week, we’ve started on a huge tree planting

This week, we’ve started on a huge tree planting effort, as part of our Green Recovery Challenge funded project with the @WoodlandTrust. We’re planting over 2,500 trees over the next few weeks, with the aim of diversifying the oak-dominated tree stock within the woodland, and providing more trees with berries and nuts for wildlife to feed on. This morning, volunteers from @ntkinveredge joined our regular Ruskin Land supported volunteer group, and planted over 300 hundred trees in the beautiful winter sunshine. #wyreforest #treeplanting #conservation #volunteers #woodland #wildlife

Our woodwork volunteers have been busy making this

Our woodwork volunteers have been busy making this hedgehog home for a local school’s wildlife garden. Seventy years ago, there were an estimated 30 million hedgehogs in the UK; today there are less than a million left. By putting a hedgehog home in your garden, you can provide hedgehogs somewhere safe for shelter, hibernation and raising hoglets. This box has a special small entrance corridor that keeps badgers, dogs and other predators from accessing the main compartment where the hedgehogs sleep. If you would like to order your own hedgehog home, contact info@wyreclt.org.uk.

#wyreforest #woodwork #volunteers #hedgehogs #wildlifegardening

RUSKIN LAND THROUGH TIME⠀ ⠀ Over the next few

RUSKIN LAND THROUGH TIME⠀
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Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be looking through our archives, and giving you a glimpse into the rich history of Ruskin Land. ⠀
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Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management, that has been practiced in and around the Wyre Forest for hundreds of years. Coppicing involves cutting trees close to ground level and allowing new shoots to grow from the old stump. ⠀
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The coppices of the Wyre Forest historically provided the livelihoods for hundreds of families, and was vital to the output of local industry. Wood colliers made charcoal from the coppiced timber in large earth clamps, which burnt night and day in the forest – as shown in the attached photo. The charcoal was used in the making of glass and brass. ⠀
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#wyreforest #woodlandmanagement #coppicing #charcoalmaking #localhistory #ruskinland

Its been a cold week in the woods, so we’ve been

Its been a cold week in the woods, so we’ve been starting our mornings breaking the ice in water troughs so our cows can get a drink. #dextercattle #wyreforest #conservationgrazing

Happy New Year! Our team are back in the office th

Happy New Year! Our team are back in the office this week, planning for an exciting year ahead. As always, we’ll be posting regular updates on our social media pages and website, to share news from Ruskin Land and opportunities for you to get involved and support us. ⠀
#2022 #wyreforest #ruskinland

As our last post of the year, we’d just like to

As our last post of the year, we’d just like to say a huge thank you and a Merry Christmas to all our supporters, volunteers and partners. See you in 2022!

Our volunteer projects are wrapping up for the yea

Our volunteer projects are wrapping up for the year, and to celebrate, we’ve been making Christmas wreaths with our Ruskin Land volunteers, using natural materials foraged from the forest. #volunteers #wyreforest #christmascraft #naturalwreath

Our Dexter cattle are having their routine TB test

Our Dexter cattle are having their routine TB tests this week. The TB test involves a skin test in the neck of the cows, which compares the hypersensitivity reactions to the injection of both bovine and avian tuberculin. Generally, animals that react to the bovine more than the avian tuberculin are considered as reactors. Fingers crossed, the results for our herd come back all clear this week. #dextercattle #conservationgrazing #wyreforest #tbtesting

We have made the decision not to attend any furthe

We have made the decision not to attend any further Christmas Craft Fairs this year, due to the COVID situation. However, for the next week only, our gift products are available for free delivery within a five mile radius of Bewdley, for those of you looking for some last minute Christmas gifts. All proceeds from our sales support our conservation and community outreach work.⠀
Woodwork products made from sustainably harvested oak from the Wyre Forest, including: Bird Box (£30.00); Set of four coasters (£8.00); Breadboards (small £8.00, medium £12.00, large £15.00); and Tealight holders (small £5.00, large £10.00). ⠀
Ruskin Land apple juice (330ml bottles £2.30, 750ml bottles £3.00).⠀
To find out more, and to place your order, email info@wyreclt.org.uk. ⠀
#shoplocal #wyreforest #greenchristmas #woodwork #worcestershirehour

As part of our Green Recovery Challenge funded pro

As part of our Green Recovery Challenge funded project with the @WoodlandTrust, we’ve been installing deer exclusion fencing around some of the coppice coupes in Ruskin Land. By preventing the local deer population from grazing on young tree growth within the coupes, we can support the natural regeneration and long term health of the woodland. #wyreforest #woodlandmanagement

Meet Wilfred – the name affectionately given to

Meet Wilfred – the name affectionately given to this veteran oak. A local carpenter and cabinet maker got in touch with us after Wilfred came down in his woodland to see if we could mill it for him. The tree was covered in burrs, which are masses of bud and shoot tissue that grow profusely to form distinctive growth on the trunk. Burr timber is highly sought after in carpentry, cabinet making and wood turning, due to the beautiful colours and patterns it forms. If you have your own Wilfred, and would like to find out more about our bespoke milling service, get in touch with us at info@wyreclt.org.uk⠀
#wyreforest #sawmill #woodwork #burr

According to a new report by @forestryengland, wal

According to a new report by @forestryengland, walks taken by people in UK woodlands save £185m a year in mental health costs. We know that our regular volunteers, as well as our social prescribing beneficiaries and visitors, experience real benefits to their health and wellbeing from walking and working amongst the trees of Ruskin Land. https://buff.ly/3lEiqai⠀
#woodland #wyreforest #socialprescribing #forestbathing #greentherapy #mentalhealth

We’re looking for volunteers to help us plant tr

We’re looking for volunteers to help us plant trees in the new year. We have over 2,000 trees to plant as part of our Green Recovery Challenge funded project with the @WoodlandTrust, with the aim of diversifying the tree mix in the Wyre Forest for the benefit of local wildlife, as well as building the forest’s long term resilience to climate change, pests and diseases. If you’re from a local group, charity, school or business, and would like to arrange a tree planting session with us, then get in touch with daisy@wyreclt.org.uk #wyreforest #treeplanting #volunteers

Now we’re on the countdown to Christmas, are you

Now we’re on the countdown to Christmas, are you on lookout for local and sustainable gifts that support good causes? Well, why not browse our stall at the Greener Living Christmas Fair on Saturday 4th at the Kidderminster Youth House, and the Bewdley Museum Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday 18th? We’ll have our handcrafted woodwork products, apple juice and honey for sale, along with gift vouchers for our Ruskin Club craft and nature course programme for 2022. #greenchristmas #wyreforest #shoplocal

FIREWOOD ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to unprecedented demand

FIREWOOD ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to unprecedented demand, we are not accepting any further orders for firewood deliveries until the new year. We will fulfil orders that we have already received and are yet to deliver before Christmas, but do not have capacity to take on any more orders. Our netted bags of firewood and kindling are still available to buy from Hopleys Farm Shop on Cleobury Road. We’re grateful to everyone for their support and understanding. #buylocal #firewood #wyreforest

Our volunteers have been busy bees this week, maki

Our volunteers have been busy bees this week, making solitary bee hotels. Solitary bees aren’t like honeybees that live in hives. As their name suggests, they make their nests on their own and lay their eggs in tunnels, such as in dead wood or hard soil. The frames of these bee hotels were made by our woodwork volunteers, then they were filled by our Ruskin Land volunteers, and they’ll be installed on site by our conservation volunteers. What a team effort! The bee hotels, along with various other wildlife boxes we make, are available to order. Email info@wyreclt.org.uk for more information. #wildlifebox #beehotel #solitarybee #wyreforest #volunteers

Bewdley School A-Level Film Studies students made

Bewdley School A-Level Film Studies students made this short film for us to help share our story and promote our work. It was wonderful to work with a group of local talented young people and give them an opportunity to gain some creative work experience with us. #wyreforest #filmstudents #shortfilm #bewdleyschool #workexperience

It’s a beautiful blue-sky frosty autumnal mornin

It’s a beautiful blue-sky frosty autumnal morning in Ruskin Land today, and the WCLT team are gearing up for another busy week of work #mondaymotivation #wyreforest #autumn #woods

Yesterday, the Frank Chapman Outdoor Centre team s

Yesterday, the Frank Chapman Outdoor Centre team spent a relaxing morning in the workshop with us, learning green woodwork techniques and carving their own spatulas. The Frank Chapman Centre are just a stone’s throw away from us in the Wyre Forest, and it was great to get to know the staff a bit better. If you’re interested in having your own corporate team away day with us, get in touch: info@wyreclt.org.uk or 01299 488083. ⠀
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#teamawayday #corporatepackage #greenwoodwork #wyreforest #frankchapmancentre

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For more information about what we do or to enquire about our products events and courses, call us on

01299 488083

or email us: info@wyreclt.org.uk

St Georges Farm
Tanners Hill
Bewdley
DY12 2LS

WCLT is grateful for LEADER funding that has supported forestry machinery and new timber storage buildings.