Current Projects
Enchanted Wood:
Investigative work is currently taking place with a view to providing a safe and enjoyable play area for younger children adjacent to Adderstone Field. The idea is to make use of the natural habitat and incorporate natural materials, which will give the youngsters that important start of ‘hands on’ experience in a real living forest. Planning for this project is now underway.
Members have had two site meetings, one with local field naturalist and geologist Peter Robinson, to identify trees, vegetation and fungi and at the same time taking a photographic record and mapping the area. The second meeting was to discuss ideas suitable for infants that could be incorporated on the site using the natural features. Both these visits have proved extremely useful and many attractive, interesting and educational ideas have been forthcoming.
We invited local schools to submit designs for the entrance, and the Friends are investigating options for restoration of the dry stone walling on the Adderstone field perimeter,
The Archbishop’s Scarf:
During the tour of the county in the spring of 2007 the Archbishop of York signed a locally designed and printed scarf. The Friends will fund the display of the signed scarf in the Visitors Centre.
Bird Feeding Station:
The Friend's proposal to set up a bird feeding station with a remote CCTV camera linked to a viewing screen in the Visitors Centre, was accepted by The Forestry Commission. This will allow visitors to see the feeding birds in close up without causing any disturbance to the birds. The site for the feeding station has now been finalised and this should now be installed in the near future.
Ongoing Projects
Wheelchairs:
The first Project was the provision of an electric buggy to allow less able visitors to enjoy a trip around the Dalby Beck walk. This was funded completely from membership fees and was delivered in 2005.
In 2006 two manual wheelchairs were provided, and in July 2007 the Friends provided a second electric buggy.
The wheel chairs and buggies are now available free ofcharge from the Atrium in The New Visitors Centre.
It is advisable to book and the number to ring is: 01751 460295
The Forestry Commission are now investigating a range of cycles for less able visitors and working with the Friends to decide what may be appropriate.
Seating:
The Friends of Dalby Forest have purchased several benches and donated them to the Forestry Commission.
Some have been placed at:-
Pexton Moor - viewpoint
Dalby Beck Trail - near view of fields and valley
Sneverdale play area
Waitcliffe, Bickley car park - viewpoint over Langdale
Staindale Lake - view from dam across lake
Crosscliffe trail - viewpoint
Other Forestry Commission benches have been placed at Adderstone; Deepdale; the Dalby yellow trail. Picnic tables for those with special needs, with improvements to the access, have been provided along the Waitcliff Trail from Bickley Gate. These afford spectacular views over Deepdale and Langdale Forest.
Successful Project:
2005 Woodland Festival. To read more about it click on the link.
2007 Woodland Festival.Took place over the 14th, 15th and 16th of September 2007. A three day fair based around charcoal burning and associated woodland crafts. There was a traditional charcoal kiln. Discover the story and influence of charcoal. Local craftsmen displayed their products and demonstrated their skills e.g. hurdle fencing, outdoor forge, stick making, possible chainsaw carving.
Completed projects:
Play furniture:
The forestry commission provided the money to update the play area at Adderstone.
The play area at Sneverdale was updated to help children with special needs thanks to funding from “YorVenture”
Publicity:
Thanks to a grant from Yorkshire Forward, posters are on display in the Ryedale District Council information centres where FODF leaflets are available. FODF leaflets are also available at Keldy and Dalby visitors centres and on the Moors Bus. These are replenished yearly
Nest Boxes:
As part of our conservation work a number of nest boxes were purchased.
These were placed in suitable areas in order that we may have more insight into the breeding populations of some of the birds in the forest and hopefully encourage some of the scarcer species to nest.
In the early part of 2007 more nest boxes, which are numbered, were put in place along the beck at Staindale
The committee in partnership with other local organisations are constantly looking at new projects in the forest. If you would like to become involved with any of the above, would like more details, have ideas, or any comments on what should happen in Dalby Forest, please contact: Friends of Dalby Forest, PO Box 67, Pickering, North Yorks, YO18 7WP Tel: 01751 472771 or e-mail using this link.