The Woodland Trust, Heartwood Forest and Disney

Your questions answered!

The Woodland Trust plans to plant 600,000 trees at Heartwood Forest over the next few years and hopes to involve lots of people and corporate partners at every stage. See May Update PDF here.

How is Disney involved in Heartwood Forest?
Disney has agreed to help raise funds for Heartwood Forest by donating enough money to pay for 50 acres. They’ll be raising funds in their high street stores by asking people to buy re-usable shopping bags, which will also be helping to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. As a thank you to Disney, the Woodland Trust would like to call the 50-acre area ‘The Magical Wood, planted by Disney Store’.

Does this mean Disneyland is coming to Sandridge?
No! ‘The Magical Wood, planted by Disney Store’ will be just like the rest of Heartwood Forest – a stunning area of broadleaved, native woodland which will be open and accessible for local people and visitors to explore and enjoy. Woodland is the perfect place to learn about nature, keep fit, walk the dog or have a picnic. ‘Magical Wood, planted by Disney Store’ will be no exception.

When will planting start?
The Trust is hoping to begin planting in spring 2010 and expect to be finished around a year later. It’ll then take about 10 to 12 years for the saplings to mature into a thriving woodland with a rich mix of trees, flowers and animals.

Where will visitors to Heartwood Forest park?
The Trust is encouraging as many visitors as possible to come to Heartwood Forest by public transport (there are bus stops around half a mile away) and they are also planning to link cross forest trails into existing cycle routes and bridleways to get more people accessing the site on foot or on bike. However, in addition, they have identified places in the local vicinity where there are existing parking spaces available.

Will there be a visitor centre?
The Trust don’t have any plans for a visitor centre, although there will be plenty of information boards to help people learn more about the flora and fauna in the wood. They’re hoping that any visitors wanting to buy food and drink will visit Sandridge and support the local pubs and shops.

What can I do to help the project?
Visit the Heartwood website to find out more at: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/heartwood

The Woodland Trust is asking local people to suggest possible names for the new Heartwood community orchard.*

Send in your suggestions by Friday 2nd October and it could be one of five to go forward for local public vote via this website.

You can email them here or write to Heartwood, The Woodland Trust, Autumn Park, Grantham, NG31 6LL.

The top five names will be posted on this website from Monday 19th October and you will then have chance to vote for your favourite. Voting ends on Friday 20th November 2009.

The name with the most votes will be announced via this website on Monday 30th November 2009.

The new orchard will hopefully be started during the 09/10 tree planting season and local people will have the opportunity to come along and help.

* Please note that the Woodland Trust have extended the naming of the orchard after listening to feedback from local people, some of whom were finding it difficult to suggest names without knowing the location. They’d like to thank everyone who has sent in their suggestions so far and reassure people that these will still be included.

Voting guidelines: