A community woodland project Registered charity no 1094558

www.ifnotnowwhen.org 

if not now, when – a hidden gem in North Norfolk

The if not now, when community woodland is tucked away in Suffield, between Alysham and North Walsham. The woodland was created in April 2002 after the death of David Hood and is free for anyone to use. Complete with an orchard, labyrinth, interesting architectural features and a wetland meadow, it’s the ideal spot for a picnic and gentle stroll. This year it will host some great events including a dawn chorus walk, a moth night and an Apple Day in the Autumn.

After an award winning career as a restorer of some of the oldest timber framed buildings in Norwich, David Hood, like many of his generation at that time, decided in 1974 to opt out of the rat race and bought Home Farm, Suffield. It comprised a traditional Norfolk farmhouse, in a very bad state of repair, with an extensive array of barns and outbuildings and an adjacent field.

The development of Home Farm became David’s life’s work. Although many other business and social interests took time and energy, his one constant focus for the next 28 years work was the gradual transformation of the property from the original ramshackle hodgepodge of buildings into an elegant and stylish residential complex.

The field was a challenge to David. It served a purpose in the early years when it housed and fed his two jersey milking cows, but thereafter it became, as he called it, the field of dreams. Something to be tackled once the barns were completed. There were thoughts of planting trees for coppicing or of creating an adventure park for adults but in reality it remained untouched, home to owls, buttercups, mushrooms and orchids.

It was during the final weeks leading up to his death of cancer in 2002 that David realized that he had little time left if he was to manifest his vision on the field. A decision had to be made. And so the dream of the if not now, when community woodland was conceived. A wood that had something of the adventure playground to it!

In a very short space of time and a flurry of activity, the vision became grounded. Solicitors setup trust funds, architects drew up plans and friends were approached with a view to becoming trustees. By the time of his death in April 2002, the legalities were completed.

It was after his death that the task of turning the vision into a reality became a reality for the trustees. The following year, negotiations with the local planning authority resulted in some adaptation of the original vision but by the following autumn, the earth moving and tree planting had begun and the if Not Now, When community woodland began to grow.

The woodland is divided into two distinct areas. One half is a wet land meadow, covered in an abundance of flora and fauna including a spectacular display of Meadow buttercup in late April/ early May as well as Southern Marsh Orchid and uncommon wetland plants. These habitats are in serious decline with 70% of meadows in Norfolk are in poor or declining condition, with one in ten no longer attractive to wildlife which makes the meadow at Suffield rather special. In 2007 the meadow was awarded the status of a County Wildlife Site (CWS). There are nearly 1300 County Wildlife Sites in Norfolk but most are privately owned and have no public access. The CWS system in Norfolk is managed by a partnership of Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT), Norfolk County Council and Natural England, with the lead role taken by NWT. While these sites do not receive statutory protection, they are given some protection through the planning system, with NWT playing the key role in advising planning authorities, developers and others on their protection.

The other half of the if not now, when woodland is managed more formally and has been planted with a mixture of fruit trees whose harvest is free to the community. Dotted around are some re-constructed architectural features, originally collected and treasured by David but never used in his various renovation projects. A free standing arch, restored and reclaimed from a building in Norwich marks the entrance to a labyrinth whilst a pergola, with cast iron columns from Fakenham Maltings is near the back boundary. A rather interestingly shaped 3 metre mound winds its way through the trees, to tell you anymore would spoil it but you need to climb the steps to get the joke.

This year the woodland is holding a couple of events to raise awareness and fund raise. For those early risers, a guide from Sheringham Park will guide you through the tweets of Dawn Chorus on the 10th May. In June there will be Moth Night and on Saturday 11th October the wood, in conjunction with Suffield Village Hall, will hold its first Apple Day complete with tours, apple folklore talks, cider cafe and much much more.

For further information please www.ifnotnowwhen.org or contact Belle jones on 01603 623415.

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