Friends of Alder Coppice Local Nature Reserve
Friends of Alder Coppice Local Nature Reserve
Communities
Organiser:
Simon Biggs
Email:
simonbiggs4@gmail.com
Alder Coppice Local Nature Reserve is an area of ancient woodland over 25 acres in size. There are only 10 ancient woodlands out of 142 in the West Midlands region over 20 acres in size. Alder Coppice stands on the periphery of Dudley next to Staffordshire and Wolverhampton in the Sedgley area. The 'friends' are all volunteers of various ages above 18 and with varied backgrounds and experiences. To date the group have won a Biodiversity Award and a Green Health Award from Dudley MBC in 2014 and 2016 respectively as part of the Green Spaces Volunteer Awards scheme. In 2019 we won the Halesowen and Dudley News Forging a Future For All Award for our work in Improving the Local Environment. In 2021, the Chairman was awarded the William Shenstone Environment Award by the Mayor of Dudley, having also previously been a runner up.
In 2017 the group were successful in obtaining a grant of £2000 from the People's Postcode Lottery for the purchase of tools. To date we have constructed three pathways through the woodland, one short one medium and one long. These allow access for most people and are maintained. The paths are way marked throughout and colour coded.
The group received a generous grant from Age UK Dudley as part of their project to combat loneliness in old age. The Friends Group came up with the idea of a Conversation Crescent. Put simply, this is an arc of benches which means people using them are within each other’s field of view which encourages conversation but does not force it. The benches can be used by anyone in the woodland and together with a range of tree stump seats throughout the woods, people can take the time wherever they are to rest and take in the wonderful scenery and wildlife which surrounds them.
We have encouraged the growth of carpets of bluebells by removing some bramble and have been told by wildlife authorities that the woodland is one of the best bluebell woods in the West Midlands. We are also following a programme of wild flower replacement to re-stock the woodland where the canopy, allowed to become too thick previously, has reduced the wild flower species on the woodland floor. We have also provided an easy access area for those less able which can be found going into the woodland from the Northway end. We welcome new volunteers and those under 18 with parents.
A neglected woodland has been brought back into community use without destroying anything of its natural environment. There are many paths to explore as well as the marked routes and volunteers are needed to maintain and develop this resource for all the community. Although Ash Dieback disease has required the cutting down of many of the large Ash trees within the woodland, this has created new opportunities for other species to flourish due to the opening up of the leaf canopy. It has also created an opportunity to add some ponds and scrapes to the woodland over the winter period.
In November 2019, Natural England granted us Local Nature Reserve status. This gives us greater legal protection and we have also been able to obtain a grant from Dudley to purchase new notice boards.
We have a management plan which has been professionally produced which is our bible. The woodland is divided into regions and we work round these in rotation. There are of course many jobs that need doing all the time like path management. None of us are experts, we take advice as we need it and we are all learning on the job. We are helped by the warden of Cotwall End Nature Reserve who is always on hand to assist us. This includes removing fallen trees and large branches requiring power tools such as chain saws which require experience and training to use. Apart from this type of task, the Friends undertake all other work in the woodland. It can be quite physical although there are always jobs which are less demanding which need doing. Not all jobs are physical. There is always a need for people to keep species records, identify finds in the wood, liaise with other groups, publicity, recruitment and so on. If you would like to make new friends (many new friendships have been born), learn new skills, amaze yourself with your own abilities and have more fun than you might think, then come and join us.
Alder Coppice Local Nature Reserve is an area of ancient woodland over 25 acres in size. There are only 10 ancient woodlands out of 142 in the West Midlands region over 20 acres in size. Alder Coppice stands on the periphery of Dudley next to Staffordshire and Wolverhampton in the Sedgley area. The 'friends' are all volunteers of various ages above 18 and with varied backgrounds and experiences. To date the group have won a Biodiversity Award and a Green Health Award from Dudley MBC in 2014 and 2016 respectively as part of the Green Spaces Volunteer Awards scheme. In 2019 we won the Halesowen and Dudley News Forging a Future For All Award for our work in Improving the Local Environment. In 2021, the Chairman was awarded the William Shenstone Environment Award by the Mayor of Dudley, having also previously been a runner up.
In 2017 the group were successful in obtaining a grant of £2000 from the People's Postcode Lottery for the purchase of tools. To date we have constructed three pathways through the woodland, one short one medium and one long. These allow access for most people and are maintained. The paths are way marked throughout and colour coded.
The group received a generous grant from Age UK Dudley as part of their project to combat loneliness in old age. The Friends Group came up with the idea of a Conversation Crescent. Put simply, this is an arc of benches which means people using them are within each other’s field of view which encourages conversation but does not force it. The benches can be used by anyone in the woodland and together with a range of tree stump seats throughout the woods, people can take the time wherever they are to rest and take in the wonderful scenery and wildlife which surrounds them.
We have encouraged the growth of carpets of bluebells by removing some bramble and have been told by wildlife authorities that the woodland is one of the best bluebell woods in the West Midlands. We are also following a programme of wild flower replacement to re-stock the woodland where the canopy, allowed to become too thick previously, has reduced the wild flower species on the woodland floor. We have also provided an easy access area for those less able which can be found going into the woodland from the Northway end. We welcome new volunteers and those under 18 with parents.
A neglected woodland has been brought back into community use without destroying anything of its natural environment. There are many paths to explore as well as the marked routes and volunteers are needed to maintain and develop this resource for all the community. Although Ash Dieback disease has required the cutting down of many of the large Ash trees within the woodland, this has created new opportunities for other species to flourish due to the opening up of the leaf canopy. It has also created an opportunity to add some ponds and scrapes to the woodland over the winter period.
In November 2019, Natural England granted us Local Nature Reserve status. This gives us greater legal protection and we have also been able to obtain a grant from Dudley to purchase new notice boards.
We have a management plan which has been professionally produced which is our bible. The woodland is divided into regions and we work round these in rotation. There are of course many jobs that need doing all the time like path management. None of us are experts, we take advice as we need it and we are all learning on the job. We are helped by the warden of Cotwall End Nature Reserve who is always on hand to assist us. This includes removing fallen trees and large branches requiring power tools such as chain saws which require experience and training to use. Apart from this type of task, the Friends undertake all other work in the woodland. It can be quite physical although there are always jobs which are less demanding which need doing. Not all jobs are physical. There is always a need for people to keep species records, identify finds in the wood, liaise with other groups, publicity, recruitment and so on. If you would like to make new friends (many new friendships have been born), learn new skills, amaze yourself with your own abilities and have more fun than you might think, then come and join us.
How to Find Us
Times & Dates
Session Details:
Days of the week:
Time of Day:
Costs and Booking Information
Cost Information:
£1.00 voluntary. Some clothing and tools provided.
Group Information
Coverages:
Dudley North
Suitable for ages:
Age 18 without a supervising adult.+
Service Information
Categories:
Communities
Links for Information
Facebook:
@friendsofaldercoppice
Last updated 15th Oct 2023