Links | FDL Environmental

Crafty Friends

Fuse Crafters A group of enthusiastic craftspeople based in Bolton, with regular meet-ups, fairs and events.
Ken Walters Digital Art Gallery Ken Walters would, I think, be happy to be described as one of my stranger friends, and probably thinks the same of me. Multi-talented, I used to know him as a bodger, he's a real live Viking, and is currently playing with digital art and web-stuff.
Phillip Gregson, Wheelwright I've known Phill since he and my son set up his pole-lathe at their Primary School Fair. There aren't many woody folk in the northwest who don't know his grandfather, Edward Crowhurst, and Phill has taken on the family wheelwrighting business.

Environmental Bodies

Arboricultural Information Exchange Privately run website with loads of useful info., articles, adverts and contributions.
Association of Pole Lathe Turners & Greenwood Workers What it says on the box! It started as a dozen bodgers meeting to keep the old skills going and now has over 500 members worldwide. Many local members are friends of mine, some are also in the Coppice Association NW since bodgers and coppice go together.
Coppice Association North West Members share an interest in the growing and use of coppice wood and products. Also provide training in traditional skills including apprenticeships, in partnership with BHMAT.
Cumbria Woodlands Grant-funded agency co-ordinating woodland interests in the Lake District.
Forestry Commission GB Public body whose mission has changed from mass timber production to taking the lead in the development and promotion of sustainable forest management nationally.
Friends of the Lake District Charitable Trust complimenting the work of the National Park Authority and the National Trust. Over 75 years old, it predates the former. Organise lots of volunteering & conservation, grants, campaigns and lobbying, runs rural skills courses.
Green West Lancs Anything green goes here. Loads of links, opinions, information sources. Privately managed so not subject to political control.
http://www.coppice-products.co.uk/ Useful resource site run by The Green Wood Centre, Coalbrookdale, with other public bodies.
Lancashire Woodland Project A point of contact for anyone interested in trees and wood.
National Hedgelaying Society National body co-ordinating regional and local societies. In the NorthWest of England we have the Lancashire and Westmoreland Grand Prix, a series of competitions laying in our distinctive local style.
National Trust A charity working to preserve and protect the coastline, countryside and buildings of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
North West Ecological Trust Owns and manages Gorse Hill Nature Reserve at Aughton, on the edge of Ormskirk, where about 100 acres of former farm land is being progressively restored to something near its pre-20th Century condition, with woodland, orchard, meadows and ponds.
North West Organic Centre A collaboration between The Soil Asociation, Food North West and the Northwest Regional Development Agency ( with links to their websites ), This site contains a comprehensive directory of organic farmers and food processors in the Region.
Royal Forestry Society Highly reputed National society whose members share a wide spectrum of forestry-related interests. Regular outdoor meetings, publish the Quarterly Journal of Forestry and fortnightly e-news.
The Tree Council The lead UK tree campaigning partnership, an umbrella body for 150 organisations working together for trees.
The Woodland Trust Charitable body caring for woodland in the UK.
Waste & Resources Action Programme A not-for-profit body encouraging businesses and the general public to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. Good links for recycling.
Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Conservation charity working to protect wildlife in town, countryside and in the rivers and seas throughout our region.
WWT Martin Mere My local centre of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Burscough, winter home to tens of thousands of geese, and the odd beaver.