The role of community involvement

A highly relevant and important aspect of this project is community involvement and an essential divide to be bridged is the gap between the public and landowners/farmers.

It is very noticeable from the articles in various magazines and specialised press that many land owners hold negative views of the general public, and over the last two years our own experiences have been far from positive.

We have had people parking cars in gateways while camping on the land without permission, groups of youths firing air rifles, lighting camp fires in unsafe places and leaving dangerous litter behind, fly tipping along the lane and bridleway along the edge of the wood, poachers of various types, damage to potted plants and equipment, a substantial number of thefts, both large and small and on many occasions.

It is hardly surprising that many landowners fear and resent public access and tend to keep this to an absolute minimum - if we had not bought the land with the woodland project purpose we would probably have been tempted to do our best to keep people out!

This lack of contact with landowners does not foster respect or understanding of either side. By contrast, several local people who have met us as we work on the land or have heard of the project have expressed approval of our plans and are looking forward to being able to enjoy the woodland and in some cases also join in with the project.

Many groups and organisations are campaigning for greater education and awareness raising of countryside issues directed at the general public, especially in the light of the right to roam and other legislation.

Much more than this is needed. Access to the countryside carries with it responsibilities.

This type of education needs to be carried out at a local level, rather than by people being given a set of instructions by central government. As people become more aware of the fact that each field or woodland contributes to someone's livelihood, greater respect will ensue. By involving local people of all ages in land based projects, including those which are privately owned, this fosters mutual respect and a more informed and positive attitude towards land and landowners.

These projects also help strengthen communities, which in turn regulates the behaviour of the few people who may cause problems.

In our own case, although The Woodland Project is in its infancy, we have noticed a reduction in trespassers and major thefts from the land, due mainly no doubt to living on site, but there is also the element that the woodland is now seen as someone's home and property, whereas previously when we found people wandering around the wood they often said that no-one had "bothered with" the wood for years and it did not seem to be cared about or belong to anyone (the previous owner lived a long way away and there was little contact, local involvement or upkeep.)