15th Green Flag for Tarvin Woodland

Our Green Flag 2024

Summer 2024 saw the awarding of a 15th consecutive Green Flag to Tarvin Community Woodland.

This quality mark for open spaces is awarded after much more than just a rubber-stamping exercise – just being here would get us nowhere at all! To begin with, we must submit our current management plan for the woodland, which enables those running the scheme to check that what we are proposing to do in the woodland is in accordance with all of the principles underlying the Green Flag scheme.

Next comes an inspection by a so-called "Mystery Shopper". This merely means that the person doing the inspection arrives unheralded and unannounced, usually at a time when the woodland is likely to be quite busy, because part of the inspection involves them in talking to users to get an idea of the opinions of local people who visit the woodland regularly. The fact that our woodland is funded and run entirely by community volunteers (rather than by a district council, which can rely on rates and has employees to do the work) puts us into a different category of the award but does not alter the standards against which we are judged.

We have now received the report on our inspection. It was carried out on a Saturday morning and this provided the opportunity for the Inspector to "... talk to several visitors who were extremely happy with the facilities provided within the woodland ... most of them walk the site daily." The resulting report produced gave answers to 18 questions, all of which were responded to positively, making this perhaps the most positive of all the reports that we have received.

In brief, the Inspector considered that the woodland is a welcoming place, which is healthy, safe and secure. It is well-maintained and clean, with trees and plants well cared for, signs, fences and seats in good repair and evidence that the community also play their part by cleaning up after their dogs. Perhaps most importantly, it was felt that the woodland is having a very positive impact on the environment, particularly with the wilding area and the areas left for wild flowers.

The landscape features were also felt to be both varied and of interest to a wide age range of visitors. The Inspector found "... plenty of evidence of volunteer activities that were ongoing, especially within the woodland, walks and wildlife areas. The notice boards gave information relating to working events and local school projects. The newly-formed dead hedging barriers, directing visitors along a new and interesting route, is inspiring."

The final category is Marketing and Communication. The comment here indicated that the Inspector had done their research prior to coming to the woodland! "... information within notice boards and on line (Facebook and Google (website)) with plenty of information regarding the history of the site and how this community woodland was formed and has developed over the years."

The additional comments are particularly kind and I make no apology for quoting them in full.

"(This is) my second visit to this Community Woodland and I was delighted with the quality of the features within the site (particularly the information boards relating to tree species, wildlife, birds and flora which were informative), and the high standards of the notice boards. Gates and barriers ensure access for all whilst keeping out unwanted guests. The Community Woodland is a delightful site which can only improve with age and will continue to provide a haven and wildlife corridor adjacent to the busy A51 and within proximity to the beautiful town of Tarvin."

Not only is it good for the Trustees to have such an objective view of progress, judged against nationally-agreed standards, but, for our volunteers, it provides a welcome pat-on-the-back for all of their efforts and the reassurance that they really are getting it right. Well done to you all! I think you can take this report very much as a verbal bouquet! The entire village is grateful to you!

Charles Bradley
Director and Secretary
Tarvin Community Woodland Trust, Ltd