Local people making their corner of rural Britain unique
This week
SaturdayÌý21 JulyÌý2007
This week, Richard Uridge is in Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire, and learnsÌýthat a forest doesn't necessarily mean trees.
Rockingham ForestÌý was onceÌýextensive-- covering Ìýfrom Stamford in the north down to Northampton in the south. It was bordered East and West by the rivers Welland and Nene. It was established by William I, as a hunting preserve and has had royal connections ever since. Today, the forest covers a much smaller area --ÌýStamford down to theÌýA14, still bordered by the two rivers -- Ìýand what remainsÌýis managed by theÌý
Richard takes a walk in the forest with Dr. Peter Hill, who explains how being in a forest doesn’t necessarily mean seeing manyÌýtrees. He also shows Richard the best remaining example of an
Richard then gets to know a bit about the people and places that remain in the forest. He goes toÌýto see how an old quarry has become a popular nature park. He later joinsÌý Tom Day and Henry Stanier from the localwho explain to him how they are trying to reconnect separate bits of woodland to encourageÌýthe spread of rare insects and animals.Ìý
Finally, Richard goes into a wood in Pipewell. There he seesÌýHugh Ross and Carolyn Church, who bought theÌý30-acre Ìýto bring back the ancient arts of coppicing and charcoal making.
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