We have just added a history page to the website.
The aim is to tell the story of the woodland from the time of the burial mounds (there are four) to the coming of the railway and beyond.
To do this we need your help!  If you have any pictures of the woodland or surrounding area that we can scan please get in touch.
We would also love to hear any anecdotes, stories or legends about the area.  Contact us here.

See our page with details of our AGM.  
We will be updating you on our achievements and work past, present and future.
All welcome!  If you are not already a member (Friend) there will be a chance to join on the evening or you can join now using the Membership link above.
More details to follow. 

On what was probably the best day of the year so far weather wise 45 volunteers took part in a very successful woodland work party.  
Read the report and see the pictures here

Great weather forecast, site inspected for dangerous trees and donated sausages ready to cook on the fire!
Come an join in from 10am.

Not just work, but a chance to get to know other people with a shared interest in the woods and all they have to offer.
It doesn't matter if conservation work is not your thing,  feel free to come along, see what we are up to, have a chat and a cuppa.
We will be continuing the woodland glade creation work by cutting and burning the remaining Rhododendron as well as tidying the dead wood on the ground.
We will be on site from 10am to 3pm.  Come for as long as you wish, stay an hour or all day.
Refreshments supplied.  Hopefully we will have sausages cooked on the bonfire.
Tools and training supplied.  Please dress for the ground conditions, weather and be aware of bonfire sparks.

Dear Friends,

How quickly the year has gone, but how the Friends of Uddens and Cannon Hill Woodlands have grown in that time.

We have had 6 work parties covering a wide selection of tasks including path surfacing, picnic table and bird box installation, rhododendron clearing and even clearing the banks of Uddens Water of Himalayan Balsam.

The public meeting in Colehill Memorial Hall was standing room only and our membership has grown from 11 this time last year, to 149 as of this month.

We also have well over 200 people on our mailing list!

It has been a frustrating year with regard to the threat of a proposed travellers transit site in our woods with very little news forthcoming. 

The only comfort that can be taken from this situation is that as the time passes our group is getting stronger and will be even better placed to fight any threat to OUR woodland.

Chairman Retires – 

We are sorry to announce that Michael Gorse has retired from his role as Chairman and Trustee.

Michael felt the time was right for someone else to take on the mantle, allowing him more time to focus on some of his other interests.

He was instrumental in forming the group into a  professional and coherent organisation, working with and respected by the Forestry Commission and Dorset Countryside.

The trustees would like to take the opportunity to thank Michael for all he has done over the last couple of years and reassure the Friends that we fully intend to continue to build on those foundations.

Our Vice Chairman Janet Healy will take over as temporary Chair until a suitable replacement can be found.

She has been a member of the Dorset branch Executive Committee for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) for some years and is currently a Focus Group Leader for the Green Belt in Dorset.

Janet is also a member of an influential local environmental group.

We would love to hear from anyone who is interested in being more involved in the running of the group. 

Our first committee meeting of 2014 will be on the  6th January and we will publish our plans for the year online soon after.  Again we welcome suggestions!

Work Parties –

This Autumn we have had 2 very successful work parties .  The latter one held in December, our first held in our own right, had an amazing 30 people attending during the day.

We have continued our work (in conjunction with the Forestry Commission) to eradicate the invasive Rhododendron starting in Cannon Hill South (Uddens Woods). 

The transformation on the site has been phenomenal , letting light on to the forest floor to allow a greater diversity of flora and fauna and it will eventually give better access to the woods for all to enjoy.

It was also a very social event with all ages getting involved. We celebrated the work achieved during the year with mince pies, sausage rolls and sausages cooked on the bonfire. 

Have a look at the photos and read the full report on the here.

Gravel Extraction – 

Some more good news!

Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Minerals and Waste/Mineral Sites Plan (covering 2013 to 2016).

Both the Cannon Hill and Uddens sites have been withdrawn with the following wording: 'Site has been withdrawn by promoter and is not being currently considered.'

PLEASE NOTE THE WORD 'CURRENTLY'. We are alright for now, but we cannot be complacent!

Fly Tipping – 

There has been an increase in Fly Tipping on Uddens Drive (South), please keep your eyes open and report any suspicious activity to the police on 101.

 The considerable cost of clearing up afterwards sits with us all as tax payers.

The Trustees will be discussing the issue the next committee meeting, so would welcome any suggestions.

Picnic Tables – 

We hope to have our new picnic tables (funded by Dorset Community Foundation) installed in time for the summer. 

We have some ideas for locations on both sides of the A31, but would like to know your views. 

Is there a spot that you feel would make an ideal location for a picnic or somewhere just a bench to stop and rest would be appreciated?

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Trustees

Friends of Uddens and Cannon Hill Woodlands

30 volunteers spent an enjoyable and productive day cutting and burning Rhododendron in Cannon Hill South.
Read the full report and see the pictures here 

Sunday 10th November and Sunday 8th December.
Come and join us with a bit of "hands on" support for the woods.
We are currently working with the Forestry Commission on which tasks we will be tackling, but rest assured there will be something to suit everyone.
For the November Work Party meet us at the entrance to Cannon Hill (South) of Uddens Drive (South).
That's the entrance just up from the Old Thatch pub.
We will be on site from 10am until 3pm.  Come along for as long as you wish.
Hot/Cold Drinks and biscuits will be supplied, but bring some lunch if staying all day.

Uddens Water Cycle Circular is a new 7km cycle trail in Cannon Hill and Uddens forest plantations. It is a Forestry Commission initiative funded by Sport England as part of the 'Activate 1000' programme which aimed to encourage 1000 people to get active in the countryside who currently were not .

The trail uses exisiting forest roads and tracks and has numbered marker posts all the way to reassure those less familiar with the area that they are on track. The funding allowed us to reinstate the track between Clayford and Ameysford which was unpassable at certain times of year beforehand and this meant the trail could be circular at least on the Uddens side.

The first (and last) post is near to the Colehill entrance to Cannon Hill plantation and the trail comes down the hill to cross Uddens drive before continuing into Uddens plantation. Less fit cyclists may choose to start and finish their ride at Uddens drive (starting at No 9 and returning to No 31) as the climb back up to Colehill is quite strenuous.

Once in Uddens you cycle along the existing Castleman trailway up to and beyond Uddens Water (a tributary of the Stour)  before returning on the new track already mentioned and then back to Uddens drive.

We will aim to check all is in order with the trail every couple of months, but if there are any issues in the meantime please always feel free to report them in to us at the Forestry Commission on 02380-283141.

A small but elite team of volunteers joined the Dorset Countryside Ranger by re surfacing the worst parts of the bridleway in Cannon Hill South. Read the report and see the pictures here.