Ashington Community Woods Consultation Follow-Up
Thank you to everyone who joined Groundwork North East & Cumbria at Ashington Community Woods on Monday 30th June to speak with Becky and James. The consultation session provided valuable insights into how the community uses and values this important woodland space, and the ideas shared will help shape the future development of the Ashington Community Woods Project.
Couldn't Make It? Share Your Views
If you weren't able to attend Monday's consultation but would like to contribute your thoughts about the future of Ashington Community Woods, Groundwork North East & Cumbria want to hear from you. Whether you're a regular dog walker, member of a running group, nature enthusiast, or simply someone who values this green space, your input remains crucial to the project's success.
Complete the Community Survey
A comprehensive survey has been created to ensure everyone has the opportunity to share their views on:
- How you currently use the woodland
- Ideas for improving the woodland entrance and visitor orientation
- Opportunities to celebrate the site's mining heritage
- Your aspirations for enhanced facilities
- Suggestions for heritage interpretation and public art locations
Complete the Survey Here (link opens in a new tab) - Survey closes Monday 7th July 2025 at 5pm
Project Background
Following the earlier announcement about the Ashington Community Woods Project Development Phase, this consultation represents the first phase of comprehensive community engagement that will shape the future development of the woodland space.
Ashington Town Council has demonstrated its commitment by pledging just under £4,000 from dedicated project funds towards the Project Development Phase. This investment, supplemented by additional funding from Ward Councillors' Environmental Enhancements budget, supports the consultation process, steering group management, and preparation of future funding applications.
Collaborative Approach
The project is guided by an established steering committee that includes:
- Ashington Town Council representatives
- Northumberland County Council representatives
- Friends of Ashington Community Woods
- Ashington Hirst Running Club
- Ashington Parkrun
- Local historian Barry Mead
This collaborative approach ensures that local voices remain central to all decision-making processes as the project develops.
Next Steps
The insights gathered from both the Monday consultation and the community survey will directly inform the development of funding applications for the project's implementation phase, ensuring that community priorities are reflected in all future enhancement proposals.
Get Involved
For more information about the project, to register your interest in future updates, or to discuss other ways to get involved, please contact Rebekah.Vickers@groundwork.org.uk
The conversation about the future of Ashington Community Woods continues, with the goal of creating improvements that will benefit the entire community while respecting the site's mining heritage and wildlife significance.
