The Vision - The Vision for the Next Ten Years.

Who knows what lies ahead for the Tottington Woodlanders in the next ten years? One thing is certain, we can all look back on the last ten with a great deal of pride in everything the group has achieved and the recognition it has gained.

The group faces many challenges in the future - changing climate and seasons, greater pressure from man on the countryside for either commercial or recreational use and probably the most pressing immediate problem is the lack of volunteers.

Of the challenges that lie ahead, the most important one is the dwindling workforce. We as a group must collectively tackle this and fin d a solution. This will ensure that the 20th Birthday is a big cause for celebration, with many parts of the wood well into the next coppice cycle.

In the next two years the Woodlanders needs to actively cultivate greater links with schools, youth groups and similar organisations. Hopefully this will encourage the younger generation to participate in the group, both with practical work in the wood and at shows which provide a platform to promote ourselves.

We also need to make the best use of all new technology, in this information age. This website, although in its early stages, is a step towards raising awareness on a larger scale both of our woodland and the issues we hold dear. In order to keep our members informed of events and issues and publish articles of interest, we have relied on paper circulars and newsletters until now. These will continue, but the website can provide a better service to our membership without the lag times and limitations associated with hard copy printing.

Tottington Woodlanders is affiliated with both the BTCV and Sussex Wildlife Trust, and we are closely linked with the work of West Sussex County Council’s Countryside Service. To promote the group, we must actively explore avenues together with these and similar organisations to help increase our profile, with the objective of improving our income and gaining more active members.

Another avenue that we need to explore is the possibility of attending additional shows, with a greater emphasis on local events.

To increase our income, we should promote the ‘green’ virtues of the coppiced products that we make. For example, our locally produced bean sticks are more environmentally friendly than bamboo canes that have been flown half way round the world.

Through our programme of coppicing we are preserving a piece of ancient woodland, a fast disappearing natural resource. At the same time, we are keeping some rural crafts alive and developing new ones. We believe in the importance of groups like the Woodlanders especially in contrast with the fast and furious pace of the consumerism that affects our everyday lives. We are perhaps the only way that future generations will be able to experience the working woodland environments of the past.

Tottington Woodlanders therefore appeals to people who wish to support community woodland management. Join the group and contribute in what every way possible. Our collective efforts will ensure the protection of the Wood and a greener future for generations to come.