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Commonwealth NGOs
related to forestry | | |
 Allotment Forestry Project
2 Five Acres Holbrook Ipswich
IP9 2QESuffolk
U.K.
Email: geoff@allotmentforestry.com
Website: www.allotmentforestry.com
Type: NGO
Scope: national
Interest in Forestry: central
Description
Allotment Forestry is a term we originally coined to describe the small scale growing of beanpoles but
have subsequently used to describe the growing, management and use of 'micro' woodlands;
individual trees, hedges and small woodlands, to produce all types of wood products. Some aspects of
Allotment Forestry are well developed, such as Garden and Allotment scale Fruit tree growing.
Other aspects are poorly developed and there is a need to encourage these. This has not always been
the case and for many centuries Allotment Forestry was a common practice and shaped
distinctive landscapes still enjoyed today. Revitalising the traditions of Allotment Forestry is one
way of using 'micro woodlands' and the individual tree in promoting truly sustainable lifestyles in
towns
and cities today.
THE ROLE OF ALLOTMENT FORESTRY TODAY
The high cost of land in our towns and cities means that most new urban woodlands will be small. The
traditions of allotment scale forestry in the British Countryside shows us how we can manage
these micro-woods in a way that helps protect the worlds forests by increasing our consumption of home
grown wood and at the same time as improving our own environment. With very little effort
we can all be more self reliant and less wasteful in our use of wood products. In doing so we invest
time in the care of our environment from which wildlife, neighbours and the planet all benefit.
The small size of the 'woods' and the expansion of individual opportunities to grow and use or reuse
wood may seem small and insignificant but it is the only way most people can get direct
involvement in caring for woodlands. As a result their importance as an educational tool for promoting
the wider development of the woodland industry is considerable. Allotment Forestry allows us to
grow and access a wide variety of forest products at a scale and in a manner suited to the urban environment
and to the people of the urban environment!
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