Story date: 01/2010
Over the last four years Special Trees and Woods Project volunteers have recorded hundreds of trees, researched woods and recorded stories across the Chilterns. The time has flown by and the Project will end in the spring when our funding finishes. We will be celebrating the Project's achievements and discussing the lessons we have learned over the four years at a Final Conference on Friday 12th March 2010.

The Special Trees and Woods Project Final Conference will be an afternoon session following the annual Chilterns Woodland Conference. The conference will be held at Green Park, Aston Clinton, Bucks. The conference is likely to be of interest to those who have contributed to the Project over the years - be it as a funder, Project partner or volunteer. It will also be of interest to those who are thinking of running a similar Project in their area.

Booking is essential. A delegate booking form and conference agenda can be downloaded from the Special Events page of the website.

Story date: 11/2009
130 people from the Chilterns and further afield attended the Special Trees and Woods Project's 2009 annual conference.

Some of the Project volunteers spoke about their research into special trees at the venue, in Marlow and in Tylers Green. Delegates also heard how with planning, persistence and publicity a local group campaigned successfully to raise enough money to buy woods in Marlow Bottom, now owned by the Woodland Trust.

Stuart King then enthralled the audience with stories about the Chiltern bodgers. Stuart illustrated his talk with archive and modern photographs and played audio clips of recorded interviews with bodgers. Delegates were able to look at a wide range of artefacts from Stuart's collection from their handmade tools, old diaries and ledgers to intricately worked model chairs.

Please download the Autumn 2009 newsletter for more information.

Story date: 07/2009
On Sunday 28th June over 200 people gathered in Tylers Green for a moving ceremony to re-dedicate trees planted around the village to commemorate the 30 local men who were killed in the First World War. Guests at the ceremony included the Earl Howe and the Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Mrs Jenny Hopkirk, plus relatives of some of the dead men.

This living memorial has recently been restored following historical research by local residents, Russell & Chris Read, who are volunteers for the Special Trees and Woods Project. Click here for more information about their research into these special trees.

After the formalities there was a tour of inspection of the trees, followed by tea, making it a real village occasion. Rachel Sanderson, Special Trees & Woods Project Coordinator, said: “These trees are a living memorial to the men from this small village who gave their lives in the First World War. The support and involvement of the whole community in this restoration project has been inspirational.”

Story date: 06/2009
This year Stuart King, a well-known artist craftsman and local historian, will be speaking at the Special Trees and Woods Project's fourth annual conference. Stuart has spent a lifetime researching, recording and collecting anything about the rural past. His is also a skilled craftsman who understands the traditional woodworking skills used by the Chiltern bodgers. His talk will be illustrated by archive and modern photographs which tell the story of the people who worked in the Chiltern woods, their traditions and how their work has shaped the countryside over the centuries.

Volunteers will also be sharing their experiences of researching special trees and woods in the Chilterns and the stories associated with them.

Story date: 05/2009
John Morris has published a new guide to the history and features of woods across the Chilterns.
It is a 60 page A4 full colour publication, illustrated with 80 colour photographs, plus other maps and illustrations.

The book costs £9.99 + £1.45 p&p. Click here to order your copy.

Story date: 04/2009
Following the success of the events organised last year, the Special Trees and Woods Project is once again joining forces with the Civic Trust in a series of events celebrating Heritage Open Days. These events will give you the chance to actually see some of the special trees and woods of the Chilterns and hear their stories.

Heritage Open Days activities will take place all over England from 10-13 September 2009 as part of a national annual event co-ordinated by the Civic Trust in partnership with English Heritage. Over the four days, up to 1 million visitors up and down the country are expected to enjoy exploring local heritage features which are usually inaccessible to the public and all for free!

Click here for more details about these special events.

Story date:  20/01/09
The two winners of the Special Woods Art Competition were announced at an awards ceremony at The Hat Factory in Luton on 20th January.

The Judges' Award was won by Margaret Taperell for 'In Search of Bluebells'. This piece is a mixed media and collage inspired by the bluebells in Cow Croft Wood near Chesham.

The Peoples' Award, which was determined by over 300 votes cast in a public ballot while the Special Woods Art Exhibition was at the River & Rowing Museum in Henley last autumn, was won by Rachel Wallace for 'Winter Beech'. This stunning black and white photograph was inspired by Pullingshill Wood near Marlow.

For more information about the Chiltern woods which inspired the artwork, please go to the interactive map.

Images of the artworks exhibited can be seen in the Special Woods Art Exhibition Gallery.