Special Trees and Woods Project

Posted on October 10, 2007

The Special Trees and Woods Project hopes to record and celebrate special trees throughout the Chilterns. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the success of the project is down to volunteers such as Steve Girling from Lords Mead, Eaton Bray.

Liz Manley, volunteer coordinator said "It is great to be able to welcome Steve as a new member of the volunteer team. There are many volunteer opportunities available with this project including researching special trees and woods and recording people's memories of the local woodland."

The Special Trees and Woods Project hopes to record many oral history interviews over the next two years. Steve has received full training and hopes to interview those with memories of the trees and woods of the Chilterns.

Steve said "I am looking forward to recording some real-life stories from people that can remember the orchards that used to be such a feature of our local area - farmers, plum pickers and other casual workers and even those that worked in the hat factories that used the dye from the plums."

You might think that your experiences are not important enough to be part of this project - but you are probably wrong! The Special Trees and Woods project is all about recording local stories about local trees and woods.

So, if you used to work in association with the orchards or can remember your father or mother doing so, or would like to know more about oral histories, contact Steve on 07946 652 949.

For more information about the project, forthcoming events and the varied volunteering opportunities available go to www.chilternsaonb.org/special.

Source: Focus, October 2007