Consultation Draft Bolsover Tree and Woodland Strategy

2.1 Stateholder Engagement

The preparation of this Consultation Draft Tree and Woodland Strategy has involved two Stakeholder sessions. The first covered internal Council stakeholders, including both officers and elected members. The second covered external stakeholders, including representatives from local community groups but also organisations active across Bolsover District.

BDC Internal Stakeholder workshop – Monday 9th December 2024

This workshop was structured in two sessions.

The first brought all officers together with involvement in tree planting and management in order to get a comprehensive picture of the roles and responsibilities across the Council and the collective resources available to support the delivery of the emerging strategy. This session identified limited permanent staff resources across the Council to support tree planting and management initiatives, particularly once the Woodland Trust funding for the Bolsover Community Woodlands project comes to an end. Limited resources available to monitor Tree Preservation Orders was another key limitation.

The second brought together elected members from across the District that have an interest in tree planting and management. This session identified the key ambitions of the Council for the Tree and Woodland Strategy, identifying the three priorities of 'Taking care of our existing Trees and Woodlands'; 'Expanding our Tree and Woodland coverage'; and 'Fostering Community Pride'.

External Stakeholder workshop – Thursday 30th January 2025

This workshop brought together representatives of local community groups and organisations active in tree planting and management across the District. It identified the following priorities:

• Define a clear timeline for tree planting targets in Bolsover.
• Investigate policy mechanisms such as SPDs to support urban canopy growth.
• Establish best practice guidelines for woodland creation under 1 hectare.
• Develop a woodland condition assessment framework.
• Explore expanding buffer zones around ancient woodlands.
• Identify funding and support for community-led tree projects.
• Strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, including landowners, conservation groups, and local authorities.
• Investigate the feasibility of a local tree nursery and opportunities for community involvement in tree planting and care.

Conclusions from Stakeholder Engagement

The feedback from this stakeholder engagement has informed the development of the vision, targets, priorities and actions outlined in this strategy. The external workshop was followed up by a survey of all external stakeholders and the finding of this survey are set out below.

Q1. Trees and woodlands are an important part of Bolsover?

 Q2. In your neighbourhood there are…..?

Q3. Which benefits that trees, hedges, and woodlands in Bolsover provide are most important to you?

2.2 Community Groups & Stewardship

Community and stakeholder engagement is essential to the success of environmental initiatives, particularly those involving trees and woodlands. Involving local residents, businesses, and organisations helps build shared responsibility, ensuring green spaces are valued, cared for, and sustained for future generations. Community-led efforts in tree planting and woodland management enhance biodiversity, boost climate resilience, and foster social connection and well-being. Meaningful engagement also ensures projects are inclusive, locally relevant, and have lasting impact.

A number of community groups actively participate in forestry, biodiversity, and other environmental initiatives across Bolsover District.

The Woodland Trust has played a pivotal role in enhancing Bolsover's green spaces through significant funding and collaboration. In 2021, Bolsover District Council secured a large grant from the Trust's Emergency Tree Fund. This funding supports the Bolsover Community Woodlands project, aiming to combat climate change and promote biodiversity. A flagship initiative involves transforming the former Creswell Colliery site into a community woodland by planting 27,500 trees, creating accessible green spaces for residents. The project also includes developing a tree-lined avenue in Bolsover and several other tree-planting endeavours across the district.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust manage over 40 nature reserves, support sustainable land management practices, and advocate for wildlife-friendly policies. Through habitat conservation, species protection, and community engagement, the Trust works to enhance biodiversity across Derbyshire's woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. Their initiatives play a crucial role in tackling climate change, improving air and water quality, and connecting communities with nature.

Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise is a social enterprise dedicated to managing and protecting woodlands across Derbyshire while providing valuable skills and opportunities for adults with learning disabilities. The organisation empowers its participants through hands-on experiences in woodland and green space management. Their work includes land management tasks such as woodland maintenance, tree planting, footpath upkeep, scrub clearance, and grassland management, including seed collection. Additionally, they operate a woodworking shop, using locally milled timber from their conservation projects. This initiative not only enhances biodiversity and supports sustainable forestry but also promotes social inclusion, offering meaningful employment and personal development opportunities. Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise serves as an inspiring model for how environmental stewardship and community engagement can go hand in hand.

Bolsover Community Woodlands Trust is a local organisation committed to the creation, maintenance, and preservation of community woodlands within the Bolsover district. By involving residents in tree planting and woodland management activities, the Trust enhances local green spaces, supports biodiversity and provides opportunities for environmental education and recreation. Their efforts contribute to the well-being of the community and the health of the local environment, fostering a sense of stewardship and connection to nature among residents.

Bolsover Community and Voluntary Service (CVS) supports and empowers local voluntary and community organisations within the Bolsover district. By providing guidance, resources, and training, Bolsover CVS enhances the capacity of local groups to deliver effective services and initiatives. Their work fosters a vibrant and resilient community sector, encouraging active citizenship and the development of local projects that address various social, environmental, and economic needs within the community.

2.2 Community Groups & Stewardship

Community stewardship programs empower residents to recognise and connect with local groups and environmental efforts. By making visible the networks of individuals and organisations caring for their environment, tools like STEW-MAP foster collaboration, strengthen community ties, and support more sustainable, equitable decision-making.

In Bolsover District, existing groups such as Bolsover Community Woodlands Trust, Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise, Bolsover Community and Voluntary Service, various 'Friends of' groups, and local tree wardens and environmental champions are ideally positioned to lead the development of a collaborative stewardship network.

The first step will be creating a web-accessible map of Bolsover's green spaces, working with community groups to identify where they're active, explore how they'd like to be involved, and assess their capacity for engagement. Promoting the development and launch of this stewardship map will increase visibility, spark interest, and encourage wider community participation.

Stewardship mapping offers a practical and empowering approach to managing green spaces, encouraging local pride, participation, and long- term care. By structuring community involvement and supporting it with the right tools, the District can build greener, healthier places that reflect collective commitment.

Opportunities presented by stewardship mapping:

• Engages individuals and communities in caring for their local environment in visible, meaningful ways.
• Empowers areas facing hardship or neglect to take an active role in shaping and improving their surroundings.
• Strengthens social bonds and encourages a lasting culture of environmental responsibility.
• Supports recovery and resilience following natural or human-made disruptions.
• Provides a framework for citizen science to fill gaps in knowledge, such as the current lack of a tree inventory.
• Enables the creation of defined stewardship zones to structure local leadership and participation.

Recommended actions:

• Establish stewardship zones across the District to guide and focus community involvement.
• Involve residents in tree mapping and data collection to support the tree inventory (Targets T1 and C2).
• Provide tailored training, guidance, and resources to match the capacity of different community groups.
• Strengthen existing local networks and build new partnerships to share responsibility and knowledge.
• Celebrate local successes to encourage ongoing participation and attract wider support.
• Monitor outcomes to adapt and improve the stewardship approach over time.

With the right structure, support, and shared sense of purpose, stewardship mapping can transform how communities across the District engage with and care for their environment-laying the groundwork for lasting change, local pride, and resilient green spaces.