Buckenham Ancient Woodland: Programme of Services

Aim

Buckenham Ancient Woodland Trust, a community-led charity, has purchased part of Buckenham Wood to conserve it for quiet public enjoyment.

Who are we?

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Buckenham Ancient Woodland Trust is a community-led Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission on June 21, 2023. Its purpose is: to promote the conservation of the physical and natural environment of the central 7.4 acres within Buckenham Wood County Wildlife Site for the public benefit; and to collaborate with the other landowners within the CWS to encourage a holistic and sustainable approach to enhance biodiversity and maximise quiet enjoyment by the public.

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Impact

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BAWT is community-based and focuses on conserving nature and providing opportunities for its quiet enjoyment by the public. Prior to the Trust being set up and raising £55,000 to purchase 7.4 acres of Buckenham Wood (23.4 acres), all of which is 'ancient woodland', Strumpshaw Parish Council (SPC) undertook an online survey to test the appetite of its and neighbouring parishioners to establish a Trust to secure more of the Wood for their enjoyment and the long-term conservation of this County Wildlife Site. 248 responses were received within 2 months (mid-Nov. 2022 to Mid-Jan. 2023), 96% of which agreed with the idea of purchasing more woodland for community use (rather than risk it being sold on the open market), 76% of which were from neighbouring parishes and 50% of which were willing to contribute either financially or with their time to maintain the woodland (a further 42% responded with "maybe".  SPC , who already owned 8 acres of the Wood, agreed to support the idea of setting up a Trust and by June 2023 an application was submitted to the Charity Commission. Remarkably, this was approved within just 2 weeks! Purchase of the woodland plot was completed on 2 October 2024 and, by the end of the year, further significant funds were secured by the Trust from the Greater Norwich Growth Board (GNGB)to lay the foundations for delivering a 20-year Strategy for the entire woodland (23.4 acres) and a 10-year Management Plan for the woodland owned by BAWT. Work commenced in April 2025 and includes: tree inspections and safety works, woodland canopy enhancement, footpath restoration, removal of notable invasive species, such as sycamore, and installation of green infrastructure, such as chestnut fencing to define boundaries, benches, interpretation and notice boards. Provision of certain equipment and establishment and training of a volunteer programme did not meet GNGB's criteria, hence BAWT's crowdfunding activities and the present opportunities to secure match funding to compliment the GNGB project to consolidate the delivery of its overall outcomes and the majority of specific outputs.

Why are we crowdfunding?

This is where you should explain the reason you need to raise money. How will your project have a positive environmental impact in Norfolk?

The Trust (BAWT) has also raised £9,620 on JustGiving’s platform [https://justgiving.com/page/bawt-1698694105127]. It is now looking for matched funding to compliment the bigger project funded by the GNGB because various items in the proposal did not meet GNGB criteria,  including certain equipment and longer term management to restore and enhance the ancient woodland. Hence, the Trust is now looking to Crowdfund Norfolk for funds to match BAWT'sr £9,620.

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How we’ll spend the money raised

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Proposed option for match funds from Crowdfund Norfolk @ approximate cost of  £9,800 over 3 years

3. Routine Woodland Management: Supporting volunteers with equipment and necessary training to maintain that part of the woodland owned by BAWT over three-year period (2025-2028).

£3,500

4. Routine Tree Inspections: Visual Tree Assessments and, using volunteer support where appropriate,  tree safety works in that part of the woodland owned by BAWT over three-year period (2025-2028).

£2,800

5. Routine Woodland Monitoring: Purchase of Wildlife Camera Traps to support volunteers with monitoring wildlife (birds, mammals) in that part of the woodland owned by BAWT over three-year period (2025-2028).

£1,500

6. Green Infrastructure and Equipment: Purchase of Deer Fencing to protect saplings from being damaged in that part of the woodland owned by BAWT over three-year period (2025-2028).

£2,000

Total

£9,800

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Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made