Historic forest invites young (From Witney Gazette)

Historic forest invites young

7:39am Sunday 10th February 2008 in Witney By David Horne

YOUNG people are being encouraged to get out into the countryside and join up as volunteers in a Royal hunting forest.

An award of £150,000 has been given to the Wychwood Project, in West Oxfordshire, to get 16 to 25-year-olds involved in conservation and learning about the natural environment.

The money has come from V, the youth volunteering charity set up by the Government to inspire a million young people to give their time, skills, and energy.

The whole youth programme, called 'Vinvolved', has been given £75m funding nationwide, including private sector backing. The charity aims to change the image of volunteering and make it a must-have part of young people's lives.

In West Oxfordshire, the Wychwood Project already has some volunteers who are young - even Beaver Scouts have helped out - but they are hoping to take on up to 300 in a variety of schemes.

They could include hedgelaying, drystone walling, tree planting, and the management of woodland and grassland. There are also chances to get involved in surveying and recording local wildlife.

Jane Bowley, the Wychwood V project officer, said the young people would have a strong input into what they do. She added: "At the moment, we are buzzing with ideas. We are very excited at the prospect of hearing from young people about their suggestions, and being able to put them into practice.

"We have many experts within the project and the Friends of Wychwood, so as well as having a lot of fun, there will be great potential to learn new skills and gain useful experiences for their future lives."

The project supports community conservation work in 41 parishes within the boundaries of the historic hunting forest of Wychwood, which over the centuries has been depleted to about 2,000 acres of actual woodland.

It already has its own volunteers through the Friends of Wychwood. Chairman Ken Betteridge said the district's natural environment was 'one of our more precious assets'.

He added: "By helping young people to become more involved in conservation and to understand the natural interconnections of man, nature, and the landscape, we are creating a more sustainable future for all communities in the area."