South West Community
Woodlands Trust
South West Community Woodlands Trust is a registered charity established in 1997 with the aim to; conserve and regenerate woodlands; to reconnect people, especially the young, to local biodiversity by involving them in woodland crafts and woodland management; and foster appreciation and respect for the countryside.
AND there is a film that can be found HERE and some practical tutorials HERE!
Click for upcoming events: www.swcwt.org/courses--workparties.html or see the calendar below. Next event 1st-3rd November 2024 is repairing the cruck building:
AND there is a film that can be found HERE and some practical tutorials HERE!
Click for upcoming events: www.swcwt.org/courses--workparties.html or see the calendar below. Next event 1st-3rd November 2024 is repairing the cruck building:
To get on the mailing list to be kept informed, send us an email.
There is a hardworking core of people, trustees and members who make things happen: planting trees, running courses, cooking, building structures, clearing up after visitors and generally putting the world to rights!
Since we began in 1997 we have planted trees and persuaded landowners to plant trees along the river Urr from the source to the sea to create a wildlife corridor. We are also engaged in coppice restoration and management of native woodland on neighbouring land in partnership with the Forestry Commission.
There is a hardworking core of people, trustees and members who make things happen: planting trees, running courses, cooking, building structures, clearing up after visitors and generally putting the world to rights!
Since we began in 1997 we have planted trees and persuaded landowners to plant trees along the river Urr from the source to the sea to create a wildlife corridor. We are also engaged in coppice restoration and management of native woodland on neighbouring land in partnership with the Forestry Commission.
Membership
Membership is open to all. If you would like to become a member of the South West Community Woodlands Trust it is only £10 per year. You can download a membership form below. Please consider setting up a standing order to help us with a repeated, predictable income (account number 06001848, sort code: 80 06 11). It really helps our planning for the future. Details are in the form.

swcwt_membership_form_2024.docx | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
File Type: | docx |
You can also join using PayPal using the buttons below. This option is a little bit more expensive for us, so you'll see a small surcharge using this option (you pay for the convenience).
Click "Join SWCWT Now" for a single payment. Click "Automatic Annual Renewal" to set up an automatic membership renewal.
Click "Join SWCWT Now" for a single payment. Click "Automatic Annual Renewal" to set up an automatic membership renewal.
Orchard and Wild Harvest Project
The Orchards and Wild Harvest Project aims to encourage the people of Dumfries and Galloway to plant and eat locally grown fruit and nuts in order to promote health and wellbeing, enhance local biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions. The project is funded by people buying a tree as a donation to the project, gifting a tree for Christmas, birthdays, christening, or as a memorial. The gift recipient will receive a certificate of planting.
‘FRUIT POCKETS’ FOR DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
Where have all the flower beds gone? Gone to grass many of them, but the Orchard and Wild Harvest Project would like to change all that and help you plant them up with fruit trees and bushes to enhance the environment and increase biodiversity.
The idea of a ‘Fruit Pocket’ came from a visit to Latvia where project worker Jools Cox noticed there were fruit trees and bushes in every municipal park, town square, road junctions, play parks, on roundabouts, along road sides and forest edges creating wonderful habitat for birds and bees and providing fruit for all.
The Orchard Project has been planting fruit trees in local schools, and with community groups for the past four years, but feel there is always room for more as we are increasingly dependant on imported fruit. There are more spaces rapidly becoming vacant in our parks and there are many little patches of land in towns and villages that would be more beautiful and productive with the addition of a ‘Fruit Pocket' .
A typical ‘Fruit Pocket’ would be a fruit tree, apple or plum, surrounded by blackcurrants, redcurrants and gooseberries, surrounded by blueberries and under planted with alpine strawberries, the cost (raised by business sponsorship or group fund raising) would be £100 per pocket.
With the help and sponsorship of community groups/businesses, the plan is to plant these small areas of ground with fruit, not just for human consumption, but also to help birds, bees and animals.
The first two ‘Fruit Pockets’ have been sponsored by the Co-operative Group and planted by Co-op members. Planting is ongoing this spring, next autumn and onwards!
If you or your group would like to be involved in this project in any way, if you know of a piece of land available to plant, or you want to sponsor a ‘Fruit Pocket’ please contact the Orchard and Wild Harvest Project via Jenny Stephenson <[email protected]>
This idea was inspired by Jools’ Nature Exchange trip to Latvia. In Latvia apple trees are everywhere and all municipal planting is fruiting varieties. Latvians understand poverty, we should get prepared! Jools' report on her visit
‘FRUIT POCKETS’ FOR DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
Where have all the flower beds gone? Gone to grass many of them, but the Orchard and Wild Harvest Project would like to change all that and help you plant them up with fruit trees and bushes to enhance the environment and increase biodiversity.
The idea of a ‘Fruit Pocket’ came from a visit to Latvia where project worker Jools Cox noticed there were fruit trees and bushes in every municipal park, town square, road junctions, play parks, on roundabouts, along road sides and forest edges creating wonderful habitat for birds and bees and providing fruit for all.
The Orchard Project has been planting fruit trees in local schools, and with community groups for the past four years, but feel there is always room for more as we are increasingly dependant on imported fruit. There are more spaces rapidly becoming vacant in our parks and there are many little patches of land in towns and villages that would be more beautiful and productive with the addition of a ‘Fruit Pocket' .
A typical ‘Fruit Pocket’ would be a fruit tree, apple or plum, surrounded by blackcurrants, redcurrants and gooseberries, surrounded by blueberries and under planted with alpine strawberries, the cost (raised by business sponsorship or group fund raising) would be £100 per pocket.
With the help and sponsorship of community groups/businesses, the plan is to plant these small areas of ground with fruit, not just for human consumption, but also to help birds, bees and animals.
The first two ‘Fruit Pockets’ have been sponsored by the Co-operative Group and planted by Co-op members. Planting is ongoing this spring, next autumn and onwards!
If you or your group would like to be involved in this project in any way, if you know of a piece of land available to plant, or you want to sponsor a ‘Fruit Pocket’ please contact the Orchard and Wild Harvest Project via Jenny Stephenson <[email protected]>
This idea was inspired by Jools’ Nature Exchange trip to Latvia. In Latvia apple trees are everywhere and all municipal planting is fruiting varieties. Latvians understand poverty, we should get prepared! Jools' report on her visit
South West Community Woodlands Trust is a charity registered in Scotland, Charity Number SC 025438