The Young People’s Forest at Mead is planted on an extensive former open cast mining site near Heanor in Derbyshire. It has an incredible history with links to the National Coal Board, DH Lawrence, the renowned Miller-Mundy and Leche families, a Sheriff of Nottingham, through the Knight’s Fees of the Norman Conquest and even back to the Vikings!    

As part of the #iwill campaign to promote youth social action, The Woodland Trust created a new Young People’s Forest by planting over 250,000 trees. Children and young people will help shape the future of this amazing place, creating a forest for themselves and their community. Young people, in particular aged 10-20 get involved to help make decisions on how the site develops. Once complete, it will be thriving new woodland scattered with biodiverse ponds, open spaces and species-rich grassland. Bordering Shipley Country Park, and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s Woodside farm, these three areas provide over 500 hectares of accessible landscape for local people to enjoy.

As part of this project Timber Foundry were appointed to design, create and install 3 key benches in 2 separate locations.

Working closely with the trust we completed a full design and specification for sign off. The Infinity Bench base was fabricated in house before being galvanised and powder coated to a RAL that would blend into its wild surroundings.

FSC certified oak was sourced, planed and machined before being finished with a durable oil.

Finally installation was completed in a single day by our experienced team ensuring minimal disruption.

"I met the team yesterday to show them the benches and
they were extremely happy. They were very impressed with the quality
and asked me to pass on their thanks to you. They also loved that it was a
local company that made it. They’re very much looking forward to regular visits
to the site!

 It was the first time I saw it in person too and also
think it’s amazing! You perfectly made the design a reality!"