The
trustees wished to demonstrate
and preserve the teaching of green
wood crafts such as basket making,
coracles, hurdles, pole-lathing,
etc. At the time the Green Wood
trust was unique in the UK in doing
this work and over the years the
Centre has gained a reputation
for high quality teaching and promotion
of sustainable living.
In
2005 the Green Wood Trust merged
with Small
Woods Association with
a joint vision for a linked network
of sustainably managed woodlands
across the UK in mixed ownership
delivering benefits to society
for landscape, wildlife and people,
supporting a thriving woodland
economy.
The Green Wood Centre is situated
on the site of the old Coalbrookdale
train station and is surrounded
by coppiced woodlands.
Around the site you will see examples
of low energy sustainable timber
buildings - take a look in the
Woodland
Hall which is used for
courses, conferences and weddings.
Further on up the site you can
take in the coracle display and
see a collection of coppice tools
in the cruck
barn which is also
the heart of our volunteering
project and the base for the woodland
courses.
As you continue up the site keep
an eye open for Albert the site
cat who likes to sit on the wood-store
which houses the fire-wood for
the wood fuelled heating system.
At the top end of the site is the
Station
Building which now houses
the SWA offices but was once a
bustling railway station.
A gentle walk through the woodlands
will take you on a short but interesting
journey where you will pass by
the wooden
sleeping tents and interpretation
benches that will give you an insight
into coppice
work. Leaflets giving
the routes for three longer walks
can be purchased from the shop.
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