Project Update 2: Knocksink Woods Nature Reserve Community Engagement Project

Project Update 2 at Knocksink Woods Nature Reserve

Community Engagement Project: The Power of People

The Knocksink Wood Nature Reserve is an area of unique beauty that is both a nature reserve and an SAC (Special Area of Conservation).  In our first project update, we shared a recap and our video of our first location-based event, which happened in late January 2022.

Since then we’ve had some more great on-location events. These events were run during the week as opposed to on weekends, as we knew that weekends were times of high-usage and stress on the woodland. These mid-week events led to smaller groups, which allowed for more specific conversations about restoration and conservation. Having events throughout the year also enables us to see the full range of the forest – from the rich browns and oranges of our autumn/winter seasons, to the vibrant bright greens and yellows of spring and summer.

What this project has really highlighted for us, is the Power of People.

This project has seen a huge variety of people come and take part, from our litter picks to our online talks and information days, we’ve had some fantastic conversations, and we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part.

In our video, “The Power of People”, we hear from some of the people who were part of this project – such as Ian Davis of the PURE Project and the PURE Mile Project, who help this project through providing the necessary materials for our litter and waste removal days. In our interview with Davis, he highlights how every kind of group and community can get involved in projects like this; the PURE Mile Project currently working with Scouts, Beavers, primary schools, secondary schools, businesses and organisations across the country to take care of over 850 miles of roads, mountains, woodlands, valleys, forests and upland amenities.

What we can really take away from projects like this, is that no matter what kind of group you are, there is some way that you can get involved in protecting and restoring our outdoor spaces in sustainable ways. Whether you focus on litter picks, anti-dumping campaigns, natural heritage, flora and fauna, social heritage, or built cultural heritage, there are so many ways to engage with and help the places we live and recreate in.

 

If you’re looking to learn more about responsible outdoor recreation, our full Tech Tip Series is now on YouTube, which you can find through this link.

Watch all the videos that are part of the Knocksink Woods Nature Reserve Community Engagement Project here.