Volunteers needed to help transform woodland

Released: 8 May 2008

Volunteers are needed to help out with the £20,000 transformation of a Bilston woodland.

Peascroft Wood is set for a makeover after Wolverhampton City Council secured £10,000 from the Forestry Commission’s English Woodland Grant Scheme. The local authority agreed to match-fund the initiative – meaning that £20,000 is available to spend on the site.

The work will see new fences and gates installed at the 3.8 hectare wood, off Peascroft Lane, while interpretation panels and a new information guide will help improve the visitor experience.

John Pugh, Wolverhampton City Council’s head of parks and contracts, said: “We are delighted that our bid to the Forestry Commission was successful, and together with match funding we will be able to spend just over £20,000 on improving the Peascroft Wood.”

The footpaths will be improved to make some of the woodland accessible for disabled users, while old flights of steps will be replaced and new kissing gates installed to improve the entrances.

New fencing will also be put in along with interpretation panels and leaflets for visitors.

Now the city council is calling on volunteers to help with the regeneration of Peascroft Wood. 

James Goodyear, project leader for the city council, said: “The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) will be carrying out most of the work, but we would love members of the community to volunteer and help make their local woodland a more enjoyable place to visit.

“We also want local youth groups to contribute to the leaflet design and interpretation panels.”

Peascroft Wood is on the site of former coalmines, and at one point was used as a rifle range.  From the 1920s to the end of the Second World War, part of the land was home to a fever hospital.

Today the woodland is mainly used by dog walkers.  Boasting a wide range of flora and fauna, it acts as an oasis in what is still a predominantly industrial and residential area.

James added: “We hope this regeneration work will mean that the woodland becomes an accessible place to visit and it plays a major role in educating and sustaining the local community.”

Anyone who would like to get involved in the project is invited to call James Goodyear on 01902 550118.

Issued by the press office.