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• October 2007 Talk
• Butterfly Talk
• February Activity
• AGM celebration
• April Treasure
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• January Activity
• May Bird Walk
• July Bat Walk
• Watchtower Roof

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