Hill Holt Wood

Hill Holt Wood is recruiting!

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There are many photo opportunities in the wood, if you have any pictures that you would like us to share please email them to admin@hillholtwood.com with the subject “My photos of Hill Holt Wood” and we’ll post the best of them in a visitor gallery. Meanwhile;  have a look a some of the pictures below for inspiration.

As it is Autumn there are many fruiting fungi appearing around the wood. This autumnal display is indicative of a special process that is occurring under the very soil that we walk on. The main body of a fungus is hidden under the surface and will fruit annually during the latter half of the year.

One example of we have found growing near to our I.T. suite is a perfect example of a Shaggy Ink-Cap (not to be confused with the Common Ink-cap).

As a rare treat this year we have also had Stinkhorn Mushrooms appearing in two seperate locations around the wood. “I’ve never seen these in the wood before” said Ranger Richard as he posed next to one of our fully bloomed Shaggy Ink-caps.

Another sight to glimpse around the wood in Autumn if you look skyward is the arrival of Woodcocks from Russia and other far off places, expected with the first full moon in November.

Click here to go to our Gallery for more pictures

DID YOU KNOW? The Magna Carta was written using ink from the Shaggy Ink-Cap.

Following on from our recent successful courses Hill Holt Wood are delighted to announce new dates for the “Introduction to Green Construction” and “Introduction to Environment Conservation” courses.

For more information please click here.

Thursday night saw the finals of the prestigious Lord Stafford Awards at the Epic Centre, Lincoln where a delighted Karen Lowthrop and Rangers picked up the award for Innovation for Sustainability. “This award means a lot to the staff, learners, trustees and partners of Hill Holt Wood and we thank Lord Stafford for recognising our hard work.”

The award, given in recognition of the business that demonstrates and contributes to sustainable development (economically, environmentally and socially) while creating links with universities in the East Midlands region, was bestowed upon Hill Holt Wood in face of stiff competition from around the region.

Lord Stafford commented on the award “Hill Holt, in particular, was one of the most memorable judging visits I have ever been on and the way in which they have used innovation in every aspect of their enterprise should be used as a national model of best practice. It will take a lot to beat the class of 2009.”

Hill Holt Wood has enjoyed a mutually beneficial and award winning Knowledge Transfer Partnership with The University of Lincoln since 2004 and continues to forge links with the Department of Architects and the Business School.

Hill Holt Wood are delighted to announce two free two-day courses. These courses will run through to the beginning of November and will give attendees the opportunity to visit an award winning social enterprise with nationally honoured Eco-buildings, and learn from experienced Rangers onsite.

There are two courses available: Green Construction and Environmental Conservation. For more information about the courses please follow this link.

To book a place on any of the days please call 01636 892836 or 01636 555015 or email admin@hillholtwood.com and we’ll confirm your free place on the course.

Hill Holt Wood and West Lindsey District Council are delighted to announce the success of their Future Job’s Fund bid. The bid is for funding from the Government’s £1bn national Future Jobs Fund which promises to create up to 150,000 jobs nationwide and is primarilly aimed at 18-24 year olds who have been out of work for nearly a year. This is a welcome scheme in the current climate for those who are most likely to struggle in the economic downturn, with young people and unemployment hotspots being targetted.

Hill Holt Wood will be providing Earn While You Learn places as part of the West Lindsey District Councils successful £600,000 bid, giving young people valuable workskills and experience.

The roles are targetted to commence as early as mid-september and everyone here at Hill Holt Wood are looking forward to helping to make a difference in this difficult economic climate.

For more information on the Future Jobs Fund please visit the website.

Friday 31st July saw the doors of the new Rammed Earth Community Hall opened wide in welcome to guests and friends of Hill Holt Wood to witness the presentation of the Social Enterprise Mark.

Following on from a presentation of certificates to our E2E students Nigel Lowthrop’s introduction was followed by speeches from Karen Lowthrop and Lucy Findlay before Dr Colin Leakey took to the stage to deliver a thought provoking oratory. Dr Leakey then proudly presented the Social Enterprise Mark on behalf of RISE who manage and promote the Mark as an official recognition of true Social Enterprise practices and ethics.

The Mark enables social enterprises to differentiate themselves from private business and any corporate social responsibility schemes whilst for customers, it offers an instantly recognisable label to identify social enterprises; reminding them that by choosing a social enterprise they are helping to create benefits for people and the planet.

The Social Enterprise Mark is presented by RISE, the voice of Social Enterprise in the South-West, supporting the development of sustainable social enterprises.

This weekend Hill Holt Wood welcomed hundreds of visitors to our unique demonstration of sustainable building at the CLA Game Fair. The Game Fair at Belvoir Castle was visited by an estimated 140,000 people over the three days. Hill Holt proudly presented the central feature of the Exploring the Rural Future area – an eco-house complete with renewable energy technology, a garden, pond with reed bed and even a few of our own chickens!

The building was a demonstration of how cutting edge technology can be combined with ancient build techniques to create intelligent solutions to building for a sustainable future. The timber frame house, with straw bale walls and lime render, was constructed over the past two weeks by our Rangers. Visitors to the demonstration had the opportunity to feel the strength of the walls, ask questions about its construction and durability and to seek refuge from the occasional rain showers!

For more information about Eco-build and our courses please click here.

Last week the Roman Villa area buzzed with activity as Hill Holt Wood hosted the Woodland University. 32 students from around the county arrived on monday morning to pitch tents and create an instant mini-community within the heart of the wood.

The Woodland University project is funded by Aim Higher and run by Hill Holt Wood alongside Lincoln University Riseholme Campus. The main aim of the week-long event is to encourage school pupils at year 10 level to look at moving into higher education when leaving school.

The event consists of a week-long (Monday to Friday) stay where the students take part in Environmental task, team-building, laboratory work, science based learning and learn life skills. The week incorporates two days at the Riseholme Campus itself.

Many of the students were staying away from home for the first time but everyone had an enjoyable time and the week was a great success. Highlights include the late night ghost walk, the camp-fire humour, Ranger Oliver’s cooking and the way that the whole team bonded together over the five days.

Ranger Rich was pleased with the way that the week went “I think the week was a success, by the end of it my group were all very keen to go to university.”

“Oh Hill Holt, how your lush green trees,
and rural setting spells the bees knees.
Your owners we can clearly see,
look after you with dignity.

The Rangers working where we were dwelling,
in the Roman Villa Clearing were all-round compelling!
The service was great and okay the food,
even having to pee in the dark was classic, dude!

We shall not forget that dark night on Thursday,
when your gloom and austerity filled up the whole wood way.
We thank-you for sparing all of your free space,
so that all our activites were exciting and ace!

The entire Ranger team were a real armed force,
born leader Benjamin kept order, of course!

Although not forgetting your lady tutors,
being vibrant Victoria and Catherine, Lady Brutus
But now that I’ve spoken the almost full list,
I should end by saying, “Hill Holt, you are the Best!”

Sam Pelham, Cordeaux School.