2001-02: Sheet Field Wood
On Easter Sunday many people of all ages gathered at the new wood and Rev Richard Thornburgh blessed the wood, with the youngest person pouring water on one of the trees to symbolise our celebration of the trees. Afterwards people walked to the Church to enjoy tea and cakes prior to the Songs of Praise service. Thank you to everyone who helped in any way.
The trees are now all growing well, and everyone is most welcome to go and look at the wood and walk round the trees. The wood is situated at the end of the piece of land behind the houses on St James’s Lane. Our new wood was the subject of the recent meeting of tree wardens for Waveney District Council. The other tree wardens and the tree officer congratulated our village on the wood and were impressed with the community spirit and cooperation that was evident from the fun that everyone had on the day of the planting.
In 2001 an area of rough land adjoining the playing field south of the Village Hall and allotments was being used at the time for bonfires and as a dumping area for rubbish. It was identified by the parish tree warden and others as an ideal location for the creation of a small community woodland. The land in question was owned by Waveney District Council who were very happy to give permission for a portion of it to be used in this way.
The tree warden made a successful grant application to the Tree Council in June 2001and additional funds for the project were supplied by the Parish Meeting. During the following winter, local landowners prepared the land to be ready for the 146 trees that were planted volunteers in February 2002. The wood was named Sheet Field Wood, the land being part of the larger field called Sheet Field on the tithe map of 1840.
Sheet Field Wood is composed of a diverse mix of trees and shrub species including ash, field maple, oak, hornbeam, large and small leaved limes, crab apple, hazel guelder rose wild cherry, wild pear and spindle. Located in the centre of the village Sheet Field Wood has become an attractive landscape and recreational feature, well used by parishioners. It also provides a valuable habitat for a range of woodland species.
In the years since it was planted the trees have grown vigorously and become rather crowded and shaded. The dense woodland canopy has been opened up, some coppicing done and a number of dead or dying trees felled and mature trees thinned or removed to create extra small glades. Some extra pathways are now maintained and mown periodically during the year to improve accessibility, while keeping the blackthorn under control is a continuing struggle.
Autumn in the Wood 2024