business
what we do
The Whitelands Project CIC unites community and conservation, restoring the native ecosystem of Whitelands Wood by working with local small businesses and community groups.
We provide a platform for craftspeople, educators, and traders to sustainably utilise ecosystem resources, supporting them as their businesses grow. This relationship encourages a deeper understanding of the woodland landscape, as well as a ensuring future for the woodland itself – because when you appreciate something for its economic as well as its intrinsic value, the harder you will work to protect it.
Are you a trader, craftsperson or artist? Are you in need of a woodland base? Or simply interested in woodlands and land management? If so, we want to hear from you, and hear how you want to make biodiversity your business.
Current opportunities:
• Green woodworking
• Willow coppice
• Uses for sawmill offcuts
• Workshop space and storage
• Art materials
• Wildlife recording and photography
• Education and research
• Firewood production
(Our agreements are based off value to the woodland, often relying on skill sharing or assistance with woodland maintenance rather than financial agreements. Payment may be required in some circumstances.)
We want to help develop rural industry in the South Downs. Whitelands is a working woodland, with ongoing timber extraction, firewood production, and management. But we want to make it accessible to everyone. We also host quarterly volunteer work parties, where you can get a taste for forestry and invest in the maintenance of the site. We are always looking for new ideas for projects, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.
You can have a look at our current partnerships below.
On site, all year:
| Sector | Partnership | Contact | Details |
| Forestry | Whitelands Sawmill – Tom Hartley |
Tom Hartley on 07818882063 Or at whitelandssawmill@gmail.com |
Custom milled sustainable timber from the heart of South Downs National Park. Specializing in Western Red Cedar. |
| Education/Recreation | Club Morgan – Elsa Donovan |
Elsa Donovan on 07821625195 Or elsadonovan@club-morgan.com |
Kids groups during school holidays with Elsa of Club Morgan. Activities include bushcraft, den building, tree climbing and running wild! |
| The Portsmouth Academy | https://www.theportsmouthacademy.org.uk/ | Outdoor education for ages 11 to 16. | |
| Volunteering |
Whitelands work parties
|
Contact whitelandswood@btinternet.com for details |
Local volunteers helping out with woodland maintenance, skill sharing and eating cake. Follow our Facebook page to keep updated. |
| Hampshire Monday Group (HMG Volunteers) | Local volunteers from around South Downs National Park, helping out with maintenance and land management. |
Occasional or off site:
| Sector | Partnership | Contact |
| Education/Research | University of St Andrews – Fritha West, MSc | Contact whitelandswood@btinternet.com for details |
|
University of Portsmouth – Architecture Dept.
|
||
| University of Lancaster – Bede West, PhD candidate | ||
| Training |
Arbsystem
|
Contact Gillon Laidlaw of Arbsystem at https://www.arbsystem.co.uk/
|
| Nik Woods Tree Surgery | Contact Nik Woods at https://nikwoodstreeservices.com/ | |
| Arts | The Granary Arts Collective |
Contact Keziah of the Granary at https://www.granarycreativearts.com/
|
| Bardulf Creative | Contact Will of Bardulf at https://www.bardulf.com/media | |
| Social Enterprise | School of Social Entrepreneurs |
|
| Land Workers Alliance | https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/ | |
| Conservation | Forestry Commission |
Contact whitelandswood@btinternet.com for details |
| Natural England | ||
| Butterfly Conservation |
We want to help develop rural industry in the South Downs. Whitelands is a working woodland, with ongoing timber extraction, firewood production, and management. But we want to make it accessible to everyone. We also host quarterly volunteer work parties, where you can get a taste for forestry and invest in the maintenance of the site. We are always looking for new ideas for projects, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.
You can have a look at our current partnerships below.
On site, all year:
|
Sector |
Partnership |
Contact |
Details |
|
Forestry |
Whitelands Sawmill – Tom Hartley |
Tom Hartley on 07818882063 Or at whitelandssawmill@gmail.com |
Custom milled sustainable timber from the heart of South Downs National Park. Specializing in Western Red Cedar. |
|
Education/Recreation |
Club Morgan – Elsa Donovan |
Elsa Donovan on 07821625195 Or elsadonovan@club-morgan.com |
Kids groups during school holidays with Elsa of Club Morgan. Activities include bushcraft, den building, tree climbing and running wild! |
|
The Portsmouth Academy |
Outdoor education for ages 11 to 16. |
||
|
Volunteering |
Whitelands work parties
|
Contact whitelandswood@btinternet.com for details |
Local volunteers helping out with woodland maintenance, skill sharing and eating cake. Follow our Facebook page to keep updated. |
|
Hampshire Monday Group (HMG Volunteers) |
Local volunteers from around South Downs National Park, helping out with maintenance and land management. |
Occasional or off site:
|
Sector |
Partnership |
Contact |
|
Education/Research |
University of St Andrews – Fritha West, MSc |
Contact whitelandswood@btinternet.com for details |
|
University of Portsmouth – Architecture Dept.
|
||
|
University of Lancaster – Bede West, PhD candidate |
||
|
Training |
Arbsystem
|
Contact Gillon Laidlaw of Arbsystem at https://www.arbsystem.co.uk/
|
|
Nik Woods Tree Surgery |
Contact Nik Woods at https://nikwoodstreeservices.com/ |
|
|
Arts |
The Granary Arts Collective |
Contact Keziah of the Granary at https://www.granarycreativearts.com/
|
|
Bardulf Creative |
Contact Will of Bardulf at https://www.bardulf.com/media |
|
|
Social Enterprise |
School of Social Entrepreneurs |
|
|
Land Workers Alliance |
||
|
Conservation |
Forestry Commission |
Contact whitelandswood@btinternet.com for details |
|
Natural England |
||
|
Butterfly Conservation |
