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Annual review
The Friends enjoyed another active
year. We completed our sixth
anniversary by continuing an active
educational and ‘hands on’ programme
aimed to please all tastes and ages of
nature lover.
Of particular note, in 2011 we were
successful in being awarded the annual
Green Flag. This prestigious
environmental award is in recognition
of the bio-diversity qualities, the
amenity standards, the educational
value and the creative forward plans of
the applicant. The annual award has now
been won each year since the Friends
were first formed. This success is
unique to Haw Park Wood and reflects
the hard work of the Wakefield
Countryside Team and ourselves.
Each year adds to the challenges we
face in continuing without more new
blood! During 2011 our Chair had to end
her involvement, the Publicity Officer
moved to Ireland and a committee member
was unable to continue. This has
created a very heavy work load for the
remaining team which has at last been
significantly eased. Pauline Rylance,
bubbling with skill and enthusiasm, has
come forward to undertake the duties of
Publicity Officer. Any other Friends
who feel they would like to be on the
committee please step forward.
A fine 2011 programme came up against
nature, ill health and the weather. Any
Friends who have been disappointed as a
result have our sympathy and an
assurance that our activity days for
2012 will seek to avoid the winter
months.
The 2011 programme was our fullest and
most ambitious to date with a combined
total of twenty four open meetings and
woodland activities. We covered the art
of walking stick carving, Haw Park
woodland creatures, Yorkshire’s re-
established Red Kites, the importance
of bees, water voles, art drawing from
nature, aspects of our weather and the
Woodland Trust. As woodland nature
activities we tidied, took early
morning bird walks, evening bat walks,
searched for water voles, identified
our tree varieties, bashed balsam,
cleared bracken, made bat boxes and
fitted them.
We look forward to continuing the good
work and seeing all our friends during
2012!
John Bolton secretary
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