If you popped down to Wombwell Woods on Sat 30th & Sunday 31st July 2016, you’d certainly be in for a surprise!….Bug hunts, campfire songs and stories, music from a live Latin band, art stations, bird boxes and den building were all part of this vibrant and natural mix!

The weekend was the second woodland celebration event to take place at Wombwell Woods. In a bid to re-connect people with nature, encourage them to explore and value their green spaces, and to provide a creative uplift!

The Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership worked closely with UPLIFT as part of  Creative Recovery; a movement of people who use creativity to bring about social change, inspire community spirit and boost well-being and Recovery and a number of fantastic partners and volunteers.

The weekend saw over 200+ people visiting the woods, many from local and surrounding communities, but others that had ventured out for a weekend of exploration and discovery.

To view some of the magic captured from the weekend please visit our online photo gallery.

We have since received some fab feedback from visitors from the weekend, that just goes to show how valuable it is to get people connected to the outdoors, for both physical and mental well-being, as well as to raise awareness on the importance of such sites for rare and vulnerable wildlife.

FEEDBACK

• 67% of people asked had not visited the woods before. All of these people stated they would now return.
• 100 % of people stated that participating made them feel more relaxed and content
• 66 % of people stated that they felt more connected with new people

WEEKEND QUOTES

“What a fantastic event this was! We were there today and it was GREAT. Thank you.”

“We went to this today in the Wombwell Woods at Barnsley, picnic, bug hunting, watercolour painting. Latin music to join in with, interactive story / play ,as we journeyed through the woods. Real camp fire. Specially crafted bird boxes. It was AWESOME. Well done to everyone who made this happen.

“Lovely lovely lovely! Such a gorgeous atmosphere!“Was such a magical afternoon.”

“When I come back after spending time with my family on the Isle of Wight I always feel homesick. Today I had a wonderful antidote of an afternoon in the woods with some lovely people (and some dogs!) having a picnic, roaming the woods and watching the story of a tree sparrow and her friends. It was absolutely magical and quite moving. Surrounded by friends, warmth and song”

Thank you we had a lovely time today at this event…well done guys

“A brilliant afternoon in Wombwell woods . A magical time beneath the trees. Even the dog loved it!

 “Had an awsome day in the woods. Even managed to get a fire lit (eventually). Go along tomorrow”

“Thank you for a truly brilliant afternoon in the woods. My mini Gruffalo had a ball. Gorgeous folk play! Any Barnsley peeps with littlies I can’t recommend more highly the fab event happening at Wombwell Woods. It really was so magical. The music in sparrow was so perfect. May have had a tear in the eye.”

A big thank you to all who made the weekend such a success, we hope to make the event an annual one, so do keep a look out for updates in the new year!