Wild Wood Group

Location | Upcoming Events | Donate | Contacts

Aim

Our aim is to create green space for biodiversity and the community.

Since 2010 we have been working to create diverse habitats for nature as part of a local community action group. The project has been led by a committed Steering Group and has always included community engagement and volunteering at every stage.

The Walsham Wild Woods Project is based on these core principles:

• nature is vital infrastructure for  communities
• resilience is built locally and needs to involve everyone
• threats to nature through climate change and biodiversity loss will have impacts on food supply, flooding, drought, mental well being and security

The Walsham Wild Woods project was imagined in 2010 to create green space for biodiversity and the community. Our volunteer group has created two linked spaces in the heart of the village: the Wild Wood planted from 2012 onwards and the Jubilee Wood and Meadow begun in 2022. We currently manage 2 hectares.

Growing Green Spaces

The original Wild Wood now feels like an established young woodland. Species range from birch, bird cherry, hazel and spindle to yew. It includes Scot’s pine, mirabel plum, crab apple and oak, including a young oak tree direct from the Sandringham estate.

The grassy rides host a wealth of wild flowers and we have been delighted  to discover a growing colony of orchids which arrived of their own accord.

This growing and diverse habitat provides food, shelter and space for wildlife including a range of butterflies and moths, birds including the barn owl and small and larger mammals. They are registered Wild Spaces with the Butterfly Conservation Organisation.

We have also planted a wildflower meadow and a small community orchard. The orchard contains local heritage varieties of fruit tree and each tree is buddied by a family or group linked to  the community. For example, the St Mary’s bell ringers have buddied the dessert apple variety, Lord Lambourne.

Our Community & The Woodperson’s Year

The Wild Woods Steering Group and an army of brilliant volunteers manage the spaces over the course of the “Woodperson’s Year”. The year culminates in late summer grass and meadow management followed by the Pumpkin Trail at the end of October.

This public space is valued and used regularly by the preschool and primary school as well as hosting community events such as a bat safari, pumpkin trail, Easter trail, yoga classes and working parties. Many people enjoy walking through the spaces or sitting and relaxing to enjoy the growing no biodiversity of the area throughout the seasons.

Wild Things Forest School

Recent Events

Curry Night with Food for Thought

Our annual fundraising event was held on February 7th with a range of delicious curries served to over 60 supporters. The evening was made by our inspirational and joyful speaker, Kate Elliot, head gardener at Columbine Hall in Stowupland. We learned how the garden has been created and developed over a quarter of a century with Kate central to the project, starting as a youngster of 16 with a passion for growing things and staying with the project to this day. Thoughtful gardening is an essential part of expanding land use for biodiversity with every garden space potentially adding to a network of plant and pollinator friendly environments. As well as being a very special community event, we raised over £500 to help fund our work in creating green, diverse space in our community.

Past speakers have been Patrick Barker talking about regenerative farming and Dr Ross Piper on the importance of insects.

Black Poplars

This Spring we were joined by our MP, Adrian Ramsay, to plant two young black poplar trees in the Wild Wood and the Jubilee Wood. These are a relatively rare form of the poplar which have become almost lost to Suffolk. With the help of the Suffolk Tree Warden Network, they are being reintroduced and we were lucky enough to receive two of the first young trees available through their propagation project.

Woven Hurdle

Upcoming Events – 2026/27

Saturday April 4th 10am- 11:30am in the Wild Wood – Easter Egg Hunt
Activities, coffee/tea/ squash and Woosters hot cross buns. 

Friday June 5th from 7pm at the Memorial Hall – Six Inches of Soil
A screening of this astounding film showing the vital importance of caring for the soil and its significance for human survival. The bar will be open and nibbles will be available.rowing

Wild Things Forest School Outdoor Childrens Activities

Location

Donate

FRIENDS OF THE WALSHAM WILD WOOD has been established to facilitate individuals, families and organisations in committing to a regular payment to support the wood which helps to meet the running costs. By donating a minimum of £1 per month you become a Friend of the Wild Wood. Bequests are also very welcome if that would be more appropriate to your circumstances. All donations are much appreciated.

Account number: 87777177 | Sort Code: 60-04-16 | Account name: Walsham Wild Wood | Reference: “Friend”

Contacts

Chair Rachel Robinson
Secretary John Stebbing