During the winter season when all the visiting schools are hibernating, we use the time to do some volunteer training, share funky facts that engage the children and also have a bit of a social catch up. We’ve had almost 100 attendees come to at least one of the seven training sessions that we have offered this winter. As well as our ‘established’ volunteers, we're pleased to have also welcomed 8 new volunteers to the team. They are in the process of shadowing the teaching sessions, led by our established volunteers, and will hopefully be ready to assist and then lead sessions this coming spring/summer season.

We have also introduced a new system for volunteers to sign up for helping with all the different events at the woods, from Nature Discovery Days to weekend family events. The volunteers have embraced the new system, including all the little hiccups involved with transferring to a new electronic sign in system. Thank you to all our volunteers for your patience and understanding during this transition time. Hopefully it will make signing up for sessions much more efficient.

We are looking forward to putting all the training into action when the schools return in March. It’s going to be a very busy year as we are fully booked until the end of the summer term... watch this space for more news!

Whilst our education volunteers are busy preparing for the busy spring period, our practical conservation volunteers have continued their diligent care for the woods every Wednesday. Their efforts lately have largely focussed on establishing our 2025/26 coppice coup, which has now reached completion just in time for the bluebells to start appearing and bird nesting season to begin!

We'd like to say a huge thank you to all our volunteers at Nower Wood who look after our ancient woodland so beautifully, welcoming visitors and inspiring the next generation about nature!