Members of a social enterprise have been commended for their efforts to help make Bolsover a greener place to live, work and visit.
Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise was established in 2000 as a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to protecting and managing Derbyshire’s woodlands, while creating meaningful training and development opportunities such as City and Guilds qualifications, and support for adults with learning disabilities.
It’s grown into so much more – forming integral partnerships with Bolsover District Council and other organisations, providing a wide range of countryside-based services and forming a social hub for its team members to combat isolation and increase wellbeing.
Recently, Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise acquired Oxcroft Plantation, a 10-hectare woodland between Shuttlewood and Stanfree, with the aim of developing a forest school for team members and the wider community, and an events space to help nature thrive.
The organisation provides three different services – workshops, countryside and Nature Connections.
The workshops include making outdoor furniture and smaller products; the countryside service involves the management of footpaths and trails for Derbyshire County Council and Nature Connections features nature-based wellbeing activities.
Another of the team’s recent projects was designing and creating 12 stunning benches which will be installed on the 26-mile Bolsover Loop and the play area at Creswell Crags was made by team members.
Joe Bennett, a countryside supervisor with Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise, said: “Our motivation has changed over the years. We were originally set up in 2000 as a training hub with the idea of people moving on to further volunteering or work. We still do the training, but it’s become so much more than that.”
Team member Kevin said: “When I first came to Woodlands, I didn’t know much. Now I’ve learned a lot.”
Bolsover District Council has helped support Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise over the years, including with grants for a £9,000 band saw and a £4,000 radial arm saw for its workshop work.
In addition to this, Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise has carried out the majority of the Council’s tree planting work through the Bolsover Community Woodlands project, which saw them plant over 10,000 trees over four years.
This partnership work continues next month - Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise, along with the district council, Bolsover Community Voluntary Service and Old Bolsover Town Council, is planting over 1,100 trees with funding through the Heartwood project.
In addition, during National Tree Week, from 21-29 November, the Council will again be working with Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise to carry out tree activities at a number of sites, to consolidate past planting work.
Councillor Jeanne Raspin, Bolsover District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “The team at Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise deserve a huge thank you for their much-valued work over the past 26 years.
“As a council, we have ambitious targets to expand our green spaces, boost local biodiversity, and tackle climate resilience.
“However, we cannot achieve this alone. By combining environmental purpose with community action, Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise is showing exactly what social enterprise can deliver – upskilling adults while leaving a lasting natural legacy for generations to come.”