Neroche scheme
Neroche projects
Digital Interpretation
The Neroche Scheme is embarking on an exciting and innovative project to develop a digital guidebook and trail guide to the project area using handheld computers and the latest global positioning (GPS) technology.
Satellite technology allows us to create 'hot spots' in the countryside enabling visitos to access information about specific sites they stumble upon during their rambles in the hills. Pre-programmed information automatically appears on the screen when a person enters a 'hot spot' and can be anything in a digital format including photographs, artwork, music, stories, games' animations...the posibilities are almost endless!
The GPS positioning also provides an accurate location and navigation tool so walkers can step off the beaten track and explore more areas without ever losing their bearings.
The development of the digital interpretation package will continue over the coming months, with the aim of making these units available to the public during 2008, as the first Herepath Trails come into use. The digital information will not be at the expense of 'traditional' printed guides, which will also be produced in due course.
| Contact: | James Maben |
| Tel: | 01823 680846 |
| E-mail: | james.maben@forestry.gsi.gov.uk |
Neroche Forest Grazing Project
As part of the drive to provide more habitats for wildlife in the forest, and to enhance the landscape and access value of the forest estate, the Forestry Commission is working with local farmer Chris Salisbury to establish low-intensity grazing in parts of the Neroche forest.
So far conifers have been harvested from Wych Lodge, Buckland Wood, Staple Common, Ruttersleigh and Staple Hill, and grazing has been introduced at Wych Lodge and Buckland Wood.
A herd of 20 English Longhorn cattle have been acquired. This breed has been chosen because of its hardiness, its suitablility for woodland settings, and its docile nature, which means it is suitable for sites open to the public.
In due course cattle will be introduced to Wych Lodge, Staple Common, Ruttersleigh, Mount Fancy, Staple Hill, North Down, Buckland Wood and Culm Davy Plantation.
| Contact: | Gavin Saunders |
| Tel: | 01823 680846 |
| E-mail: | gvin.saunders@forestry.gsi.gov.uk |
Neroche Forest Schools
Forest School is the name given to a special approach to outdoor education, which uses the natural environment as a tool in developing children's skills and confidence.
Forest School nurtures children's ability to deal with the outdoors, and teaches practical skills such as shelter building, tool making and fire lighting. It counters the modern trend for children to have little contact with the natural world during their education, and it pays huge dividends in developing children's self-esteem and motor skills. The approach works especially well with children who do not respond well in a conventional classroom environment.
Originally developed in Scandanavia, Forest School was brought to the UK by pioneers including Gordon Woodall, who established a Forest School in the Blackdown Hills.
Neroche is now taking forward the work begun by Gordon and his colleagues, by offering local schools the opportunity to develop Forest School as a core part of their curriculum.
Through the Forest School Officer, Clare Neenan, Neroche is offering all local primary schools in and around the Neroche area the opportunity to experience Forest School through the provision of direct in-school sessions by trained practitioners. Following this introduction, schools are being invited to nominate one or more members of staff to undertake a training course and period of asessment to become qualified as a Forest School Practitioner.
Once schools have gained this qualification within their staff, the project will then work with them to develop the practical requirements to run Forest School sessions, either on their own school grounds, or by making use of local woodlands.
It is hoped that, as a result of the project, the Forest School ethos will become a mainstream element of teaching in schools on the Blackdown Hills.
| Contact: | Clare Neenan |
| Tel: | 01823 680846 |
| E-mail: | clare.neenan@forestry.gsi.gov.uk |
Wychwood Lake
Wychwood Lake lies in the Wych Lodge forest area, north of Staple Fitzpaine. It was built originally as a decoy pond by the Portman family in the early twentieth century, but became a coarse fishing lake in latter years. The fishing rights are now leased by the Taunton Angling Association (TAA).
In recent years the lake has become heavily silted, and the area of open water has decreased. The TAA are receiving funds through the Neroche Scheme to restore the lake back towards its original state, by draining it, excavating part of the silted bed, strengthening the dam, and extending the surface area.
This work is being designed to provide an enhanced fishing lake while retaining and safeguarding the special wildlife value of the lake, which is associated with the reedbed and wet woodland areas.
The lake was drained in February 2007, and engineering works will begin once Environment Agency consent is obtained, and the lake bed has dried sufficiently to enable machinery to gain access.
In the meantime the lake is fenced off from public access due to dangerous soft mud in the lake basin.
| Contact: | Neroche Office |
| Tel: | 01823 680846 |
| E-mail: | gavin.saunders@forestry.gsi.gov.uk |
