Small Woodland Owners' Group (SWOG)

News & Events

  • Memories of the Great Storm of 1987

    Britain went to bed on the night of 15th October 1987 having heard weather forecaster Michael Fish reassure the nation that it might be a bit windy, but there was certainly no prospect of a hurricane engulfing the country.

  • Newsletter October 2017

    We couldn’t let the October newsletter blow by without reminiscing about the great storm of 1987. Arborist Christopher Sparkes shares his memories of Britain’s windiest night. Was the storm actually a blessing in disguise for trees in southern England? Karen Elliott, a winner of both SWOG’s Big Picture Competition and a Woodland Award for photography, tells…

  • Newsletter September 2017

    The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness appears to have started early this year and SWOG is gearing up for autumn. With  news of workshops and courses around the country, the September newsletter includes a useful piece on tree tech: mobile apps for tree ID, wildlife recording and woodland management. More than 1,000 people across England, Scotland…

  • Butterfly Workshop 30th July

    The last in our series of butterfly workshops was held at Combwell, an SSSI  (Site of Special Scientific Interest) in the heart of the High Weald of Kent.  It was well attended by about 18 owners and other interested parties who enjoyed a breezy, but mostly sunny and dry tour of the woods.

  • Newsletter August 2017

    It may be the dog days of summer, but in our latest newsletter, SWOG members can look forward to a packed autumn schedule of courses and workshops. Read about the SWOG butterfly workshops and download our information sheets here. We’re also looking forward to the Bentley Woodfair in September, and SWOG members qualify for an…

  • Butterfly Notes

    Thanks to Steve Wheatley and Neil Hulme of Butterfly Conservation for these notes about butterfly species and how to encourage them in woodlands.       Butterflies of Plattershill Woods Tottington butterflies Combwell butterflies

  • Butterfly Workshop 23rd July

    If our last workshop at Plattershill proved to be the perfect conditions for spotting and identifying butterflies, this weekends event was almost exactly the opposite.  It was promising sunshine as I drove along the bottom of the South Downs to the event at a woodland close to the village of Small Dole in  the Adur…

  • Butterfly Workshop 2nd July

    Last Sunday saw the first of a series of SWOG and Butterfly Conservation joint workshops.   About a dozen SWOG members, owners and other interested parties joined us at Plattershill Wood in West Sussex on a close to perfect day for spotting butterflies.  It was warm and sunny with a very light breeze.  If  anything…

  • Newsletter July 2017

    Summer is in full swing and woodland glades are dappled with sunshine – at least we hope so! The July newsletter is here: Take Sylva’s British Woodland Owners’ Survey from 7 July Sign up for SWOG meetings – don’t miss a special day at the Bulworthy Project on 15 July Learn about tackling invasive species and…

  • The Butterfly Effect

    Managing your woodlands for butterflies There are over 50 species of butterfly in the UK, along with more than 2,000 species of moth. Sadly, they have all been in decline for the past 40 years, but woodland owners are in a unique position to help support butterfly populations. With just a little work, woodland owners…

  • Rides Revisited

    Some of you may have been aware of the ride improvement project  SWOG members in the south east  have benefitted from over the last 18 months or so.  (See articles in last year’s March and June  newsletters, and occasional  updates here).

  • Newsletter June 2017

    ‘There is a serene and settled majesty to woodland scenery that enters into the soul and delights and elevates it, and fills it with noble inclinations.’ (Washington Irving) Settle back and enjoy a midsummer SWOG newsletter. Read about • The SWOG horse logging meeting in County Durham •  The all-round benefits of community woodlands •  CONFOR’s…