Our achievements It took the Trustees of Warley Woods Community Trust seven years to go through all the legal issues to allow them to manage Warley Woods. It took over a site which had had no investment for many years. There were no paths, no bins, just two benches. There was no fencing, gates or play area and the drinking fountain just looked like a lump of concrete amongst nettles. The only events were ones which the Community Trust had put on while waiting for the legal issues to be sorted. We think Warley Woods is now an award winning, welcoming,safe, thriving community space with top class facilities, events for everyone and an opportunity for anyone to get involved at any level. We have 1,000 plus members, hundreds of volunteers and have raised £4.5 million - all spent on making Warley Woods a special place for everyone who visits. 2004 Management of Warley Woods park and golf course began 2006 Delivery of regeneration through Heritage Lottery Project (HLF) began 2006 New children’s play area created 2006 New park sculptures installed 2006 Stride healthy walks started 2007 First trees planted in Warley Woods for over 30 years 2008 Pavilion building made fully accessible with new toilets, boiler and windows 2008 First corporate groups help to maintain the park 2009 History trail leaflet and signage created 2009 Edwardian Drinking Fountain restored 2009 First golf summer school – free for children from Sandwell 2009 Green Flag Award for the first time 2009 New perimeter path around the golf course created 2010 The Wilderness opened to the public 2010 Theatre in the Woods for the first time 2011 Volunteers number over 400 2013 Oral history project completed 2014 Warley Woof , promoting responsible dog ownership, launched 2014 10th Anniversary of managing the site. 2014 Four years of the Big Tree Plant and two years of being a Nature Improvement area project completed 2015 Outdoor gym equipment installed 2015 Entrances refurbished 2016 Large IT system project to support the Trust’s future development (OSWALD) delivered 2016 Voted one of the UK’s Favourite Parks 2016 Viv Cole, Trust Manager wins Green Flag Employee of the Year award 2017 Gold Award from Royal Forestry Society Excellence Awards: Urban and Community Woodland 2017 Schools planting project, funded by Unum in its first year 2017 Play area refurbished with new family of carved bears 2018 Green Flag Award for the 10th Year 2018 Celebrated Humphry Repton’s Bicentennary with events, activities and performance 2018 Complete website redesign 2019 18th Picnic in the Park 2020 Voted one of the UK’s Favourite Parks for the fifth year running 2020 Surviving lockdown and coming back stronger than ever is our plan! These are just highlights of the past 16 years. The Trust is proud of every innovation, partnership and improvement however big or small. Many thanks to all the volunteers, supporters and donors who have helped make them happen. Would you like to play your part? Join the Trust or become a volunteer.