What’s new?
24 May 2007
The Wildlife Trust buys Folly Wood!
The money is raised to buy this fantastic site for people and wildlife
After a local appeal to help buy Folly Wood, a 7 hectare (17 acre) wet woodland and extension to our Flitwick Moor reserve in Bedfordshire, The Wildlife Trust have this week made the purchase of the site, safeguarding of the wood for generations to come.
Local people and businesses in Bedfordshire have rallied round to help the local Wildlife Trust to buy the site, which is adjacent to another of its important reserves, Flitwick Moor. Over £26,000 has been donated to The Wildlife Trust’s urgent appeal fund to pay for the purchase of this unique wood which boasts a rare collection of birds, insects and plants.
Kathryn Ingall, coordinating the appeal for the Wildlife Trust is delighted by the success of the appeal:“We have had a terrific response from local people and businesses, and we are very grateful for all the donations we have received.”
Natural England have given generous funding, and local authorities such as Beds County Council, Mid-Beds District Council and Flitwick Town Council have also contributed. The Wildlife Trust are also grateful to the Major Simon Whitbread Trust who have also agreed to lend their support.
Special mention goes to Greenfield Lower School whose pupils, teachers and parents have raised over £800 through a sponsored bug hunt. Also the members of Flitwick and District Heritage Group and Ampthill District Lions Club have given generous gifts towards the Appeal. One local business came up trumps – Flitwick Motorcycles donated £100 to the Appeal.
Other donations have been gratefully received from the Hinchingbrooke and Cambourne plant sales, Flitwick and District Heritage Group, Flitwick Runners, Wildlife Trust Local Groups in Brackley, Bedford and Sharnbrook, Ampthill District Lions Club and WREN.
Folly Wood is part of Flitwick Moor, which is recognised as a nationally important Site of Special Scientific Interest, lying along the river Flit between Flitwick and Ampthill. It is full of rare and unusual mosses, ferns, insects and birds, some of which are found nowhere else in the county.
We are really grateful to everyone in and around Flitwick and beyond who have made it possible for the Wildife Trust to safeguard Folly Wood for local people and wildlife forever.
If you or your company would like to support the restoration of the wood, you can donate either online, by phone or by post. You can get more information about the appeal or the work of the Wildlife Trust at Flitwick or elsewhere by contacting Graham or Kathryn on 01234 364213 or email Bedfordshire (at) wildlifebcnp.org
Donate online: |
Donate by phone: |
Donate by post: |
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Please call 01954 713500 with your card details. |
Please print off the Appeal leaflet and send to: The Folly Wood Appeal The Wildlife Trust Priory Country Park Barkers Lane Bedford MK41 9SH |
