TENTH birthday celebrations at Foundry Wood were anything but wooden.
Families turned out to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the community woodland in Leamington on Saturday (June 24).
There was a host of activities organised by the Friends of Foundry Wood including story telling, poetry, acoustic music, performance and a bring and share afternoon tea.
Other highlights included a tour of The Sidings, making a wooden flower, pond dipping, face painting and a bug hunt.
And a photo exhibition captured the wood’s 10-year history.
The community woodland on the site of the former Ford Foundry officially opened in June 2013, after nearly 18 months’ work by local organisation Achieving Results in Communities. With the help of volunteers, the woodland was made accessible to the public and the Friends of Foundry Wood charity established.
Since then, ARC and the Friends of Foundry Wood have built infrastructure – a covered wooden outdoor classroom, compost toilet, bike shelter, wooden climbing frame and play area – to support events and activities whatever the weather.
They have also recently created a pond to support wildlife, restored a railway goods wagon and provided a history of the site and the surrounding foundries for visitors.
In the past decade the woodland has hosted hundreds of events and activities, including creating wildlife habitats, woodland crafts, theatre performances, toddler and children’s sessions, wellbeing groups and more.
Kristie Naimo, Chair of Friends of Foundry Wood, said: “What a fantastic celebration event. We are so grateful to everyone who has supported us over the years. And thanks to those volunteers who made the event happen on Saturday.
“Foundry Wood relies on donations to keep going which can be made via a local giving charity page https://localgiving.org/charity/foundrywood/ “
