the small woods association
About Small Woods » Our History Our History Small Woods are experts in the field
of sustainable woodland management and social forestry, developing to meet the
needs of these growing sectors, and work in partnership with other
organisations. In the beginning 1988 - National Small Woods Association (NSWA)
established aimed at supporting woodland practitioners, raising the profile of
the UK’s under managed small woodlands and networking best practice amongst
woodland projects. With strong support from the then Department of the
Environment (DOE). 1994 - NWSA and Green Wood Trust (GWT) create a woodland
college in Coalbrookdale near Ironbridge 1997 - NWSA Ltd becomes a company
limited by guarantee and extends work to input on national and regional policy,
while increasing the range of woodland management courses on offer. 1998 –
Increasing public concern for sustainable management of local and ancient
woodlands Small Woods Association becomes a charity 2000 – NWSA change direction
and Small Woods Association (SWA) is established as a registered charity ‘to
further education in the conservation of small woodlands’ 2001 – SWA are asked
to host ‘Herefordshire Sustain Project’ - a partnership of woodland
sustainability projects and policy context, following a seminar hosted by HRH
the Prince of Wales and the Duchy of Cornwall 2001 – SWA establish Heartwoods
Ltd - to re-link the timber supply chain, requested by the Forestry Commission
as a follow on to the Marches Woodland Initiative. 2002 – SWA host a new
Woodland Initiatives Co-ordinator role, funded by the Forestry Commission and
Countryside Agency (now Natural England), to support a network of woodland
initiatives. 2005 – SWA and GWT merge based at the newly re-named Green Wood
Centre in Coalbrookdale, and become a focus for the coppice and greenwood
sectors.
