5:20pm Thursday 25th September 2008
By Lynne Milford
AN appeal has already raised £25,000 locally towards buying a new piece of woodland in north Essex.
The Woodland Trust announced in July it was planning to buy 260 acres of land near Elmstead Market and needs to raise about £2 million.
So far a total of £750,000 has been raised through grant funding for the woodland, but regional development officer John Brown said there was still a long way to go.
He said: “We had a public meeting, which was really well-attended, to tell people about our plans.
“Everyone seems to be really enthusiastic and the local fundraising effort is great.
“We spoke to people about what our plans will be for the woodland, but until we’ve bought the land we can’t make firm plans.”
He explained that the public meeting had been very useful in helping them to develop ideas for the site.
“We were discussing one area of land where barn owls nest which falls below the level of the road,” he said.
“The people told us the owls were swooping low across the road and being hit by cars.
“Now we know we need to plant that land a bit higher so they can’t do that – that’s why we like talking to local people.”
Children at Elmstead Market Primary School will also be getting involved, by using their harvest festival to fundraise and encouraging parents to sponsor a tree for £15.
Headteacher Clive Middleditch said: “The more money we raise the more trees the school can sponsor.”
For more information on the project call Mr Brown on 01933 681295, email john brown@woodlandtrust.org.uk or visit woodlandtrust.org.uk /elmstead
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