Dear Woodlanders,

I must apologise for this newsletter being out so late, due to various reasons including a very busy show season so far, and having a full time job (if only those lottery numbers would come up) has meant my time has been very limited.

With the grovelling out of the way, on to the news. This year has seen a very busy and successful start to the show season, kicking off at Small Dole and it continues with Wildlife Fun Day at West Grinstead and Small Dole Summer Show being the next stops. I know it is only half way through the show programme. However, on behalf of the Woodlanders, I would like to say a big thank you to all the volunteers who have attended the shows. As you read on to find out about all the news from the various events we have attended you wiil see that these have been very rewarding times.
As mentioned in previous newsletters and flyers, we still need copy to fill them. It does not have to be about the woodland itself; it could be relating to any matter on nature and the countryside; it could even be a quiz or crossword. In the hope of inspiring you I have written an article on the New Forest, an area from which I have just returned, having spent a few days in Brockenhurst. This newly created National Park is under extreme pressure from tourism and it is interesting to see how it is coping bearing in mind that our beautiful South Downs are soon to become a National Park.

Looking forward, we have a few more shows to attend (see list later in the newsletter), and as time seems to just fly by, it won't be long before we will be drawing up the winter work programme. Given that I am sitting here and typing this on the hottest July day on record, it seems hard to believe.

The Woodlanders' Committee is still surprised by the lack of response for the photographic competition. We did expect that given how beautiful the wood can look and with the amount of subject matter in it, that finding something to photograph would not be a problem. Also given the rise in the use of digital cameras we did expect more entries. It is due to the lack of response that we have extended the deadline to September 28th 2006. Just a quick reminder to you all that if you want to catch up with anything going on with the Woodlanders or contact us you can by visiting the website. Lets hope the wait for the next newsletter or flyer is not so long, or better still, I hope to see you at one of the events, supporting your group, the Tottington Woodlanders.

See you soon and enjoy the rest of the summer.


- Chris Burchell-Collins