In early 2009 we were given the use of an extra piece of woodland to use in Macaroni Wood. This is a large area and we have plans to develop it as a natural habitat for wildlife. This will involve clearing some of the scrub and undergrowth, laying trails, creating a clearing and roundhouse and planting new native trees and shrubs to enhance the woodland for the wildlife and native plants.
Woodyard Building - March 2009
Woodyard Building - April 2010
Our long term aims are to turn the woodyard buildings into an indoor play area, classroom, bike sheds, workshop and general storage area. To date we have used the charity’s own restricted funds to replace the asbestos roof with an insulated roof, repair and re-glaze all the windows, re-render all the external brickwork and the building has been repainted. It is now secure, water tight and externally looks great! We are at present, February 2011, nearly ready to lay the vulcanised rubber floor in the play area. Internally we have painted the walls and roof trusses and polycarbonate window liners have been bought and are ready to be fixed to the windows. Before it can be used as a 5-a-side football and games area an electricity supply and lighting have to be installed. All this costs money and we are grateful to the Woodward Trust for a grant of £10,000 that will enable this to happen. Any further development of the unit will depend on the success of our fundraising campaign. Some appeals to funders have been successful but are conditional upon the whole amount being raised before individual grants are released. We are some way off reaching the targeted amount of £110,000 but hopefully we will get there in the end as the unit will be a great resource for all the groups who come and stay at Macaroni Wood.
We will keep you posted on how we get on.