Last Updated: May 10
Category: GBN Projects
The GBN’s Heart Project is restoring long neglected woodland at White Windows, Sowerby Bridge. The project took a major step forward at the end of 2006 thanks to the environmental grant-making charity Grantscape and Calderdale Cares, an employee volunteering programme run locally by Action Halifax.
Funding from Grantscape has paid for perimeter fencing to secure a secluded end of the woodland, helping to prevent some of the inappropriate access which has caused many problems in the past.
With the site better protected, Calderdale Cares then organised a 24-strong team from HBOS to spend a day thoroughly cleaning up the woodland. Despite the foul weather the team also helped to resolve a drainage problem which had plagued access into the woods from Fore Lane.
A small team from Halifax’s award winning Pitstop Project was also involved. One of their new off-road buggies was put through its paces shuttling tools, litter and gravel for drainage for a footpath backwards and forwards all day.
Earlier, in the Autumn, efforts to reduce invasive species continued. Japanese Knotweed was re-sprayed, and Pitstop continued their efforts to eradicate the Himalayan Balsam .
These combined efforts have now prepared the way for disability-friendly pathways to be constructed in the woodland using Intruplas recycled plastic products. A team from British Trust for Conservation Volunteers will undertake this work this Spring.
The aim of all of this work is to promote safe public access into the woodland. Please feel free to wander in from Fore Lane and have a look at the ongoing improvements.
