ONE of Britain’s leading conservationists and nature writers, Lee Schofield, is to be the guest speaker at our special conference to celebrate Britain’s native woodland, in the north east next month.
Living Woods CIC will host the one-day event to mark our achievements in creating and managing woodland, and to thank the many volunteers who make our work possible.
Lee Schofield is the author of Wild Fell: Fighting for Nature on a Lake District Hill Farm, his account of a decade working for the RSPB at Haweswater in the Lake District National Park, where he oversaw pioneering conservation work including new woodland planting.
He is now working on the largest Landscape Recovery Project in England, aiming to create a 60 square mile corridor of widlife-rich land extending from Penrith to Kendal, in partnership with more than 30 landowners and farmers.
Lee Schofield
The conference will also be joined by Dr Rachel Penn and Sian Atkinson from the Woodland Trust who will talk about the ancient woodlands of north east England – their biodiversity and cultural significance, and the importance of creating new native woodland.
Living Woods Conference 2024: Creating, Caring and Connecting will be staged at the Hexham and Northern Mart on Thursday November 28, during National Tree Week. It is open to all who appreciate native woodlands, including the volunteer workers who spend their time on Living Woods’ projects, and the volunteer growers who take part in their Seeds2Trees initiative.
“You have all been a part of our story so far,” said organiser Lara Young . “We want people to come and see the bigger picture of Living Woods, and join our celebration of the efforts and achievements of the many people who have connected together to create and care for woodlands.”
Living Woods is a not for profit social enterprise now reaching across the north of England which helps create new woodlands and orchards. We work with land managers and communities to help them put “the right tree, in the right place, for the right reason” and create diverse and productive habitats for people and wildlife.
We look after existing woodland, working with managers and custodians to care sustainably for their woodlands and orchards. And our Rekindle project produces sustainable local firewood, charcoal and coppice products like hurdles, besoms, and bows. At the very start of the woodland process, Seeds2Trees has volunteer growers taking seeds to produce saplings which are then transferred to a community nursery.
“We want to highlight all the wonderful work they do, and thank them, and our partners and funders who help to make it all happen, and all the wonderful work our volunteers and community tree growers do,” said Lara. “And we want to encourage others to join us in this vital work. We are always pleased to welcome new people and you can commit to as much or as little time as you wish.”
She said the organisation was thrilled that Lee Schofield had accepted the invitation to address the conference. “Trees and woodland have been at the heart of much of his work over the past years. He is an inspiration to all who care about the natural world.”
Lee Schofield has written for a range of wildlife magazines and professional and academic journals. Wild Fell has been described as “a soaring elegy to nature, a book infused with a deep love of place, and a stirring call to restore wildlife to our landscapes”.
He says: “My burning drive to help nature and the climate is what gets me out of bed in the morning. Being one small player in a growing environment movement is hugely invigorating, and as frightening as the prospects of the climate and biodiversity crises are, I remain hopeful that we can pull ourselves back from the brink.”
Living Woods Conference 2024: Creating, Caring and Connecting will start at 9.30 am at Hexham and Northern Mart, Tyne Green, Hexham NE46 3SG. Tickets are £15 (inc VAT) including buffet lunch, available here.