Warley Woods Park and Golf Course

Warley Woods in Smethwick is the model which “others should aspire to and emulate,” so said judges announcing that Warley Woods Community Trust has taken gold in the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) Excellence in Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Awards.

There was particular praise from the judges for its well prepared woodland management plan. They said: “The Trust is extremely well organised and has an impressive system of governance which gives every confidence of long term security and continuity… This is an exceptional, high achieving and extremely well run and managed urban woodland and community led site and is well deserving of first place.”

The award will be presented on 14 July at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire. RFS Midlands Division Chairman Andrew Shaw said: “Urban and community woodlands play an important part in the overall woodland cover in the UK. Well managed woodlands will flourish well into the future and the Trust is showing how management, including tree felling and squirrel control, strengthens and improves the biodiversity of the wood and its enjoyment for all.”

Everyone at Warley Woods is incredibly pleased to have been chosen for this award. We are all proud of Warley Woods and what the Trust has achieved over the last 14 years, but it is so lovely to have that recognised by others.   We will be able to share the Award with everyone who comes to help so they will know that their involvement does really contribute to something extra special. It will help bolster our commitment to keep doing more, for this inspiring place and the community who care so much for it.

Reward yourself. Reward a charity of your choice (we hope it would be Warley Woods of course). What could be better?

BetterPoints is a reward programme with a difference.

It encourages you to do something good – for you, your health or your community – and everyone benefits.

How do you earn BetterPoints?

It’s simple: download the app from the App Store or Google Play and record what you’re doing. Take up a healthy activity: like walking,running or cycling.  You collect Betterpoints for all the time you spend on this activity (there is a maximum you can earn each week), but the app will keep a record of your activity and your progress to help keep you motivated.

When you are ready you can either spend your points and claim a voucher for yourself, or you can donate the points to one of the partner charities – Warley Woods Community Trust is a partner.  It can be a bit tricky to find us in the app, so most people who have donated to us, pop onto the website to do this, where you can search for charities and find Warley Woods easily.

You can go to the Betterpoints website through here.