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If you go down to the woods next week, you're Zumba a big surprise!
YOGA, zumba dancing and fruit smoothies all round will greet the dawn of a new era for one of South Yorkshire's oldest woods.
The Forestry Commission will officially open a massive 147-acre (59-hectare) extension to Wombwell Wood, near Barnsley, on Sunday, April 19... with a free family fun day.
Forestry Commission Ranger for Wombwell Wood, Lizz Demers, said: "This is a terrific day in the history of a very old and beautiful oak woodland. The new extension would once have been part of Wombwell Wood so we're taking the land back to its roots.
"There are huge conservation dividends in terms of encouraging wildlife. But the wood is also for people and a key aim is to create a vibrant space for healthy exercise.
" That's why our packed family fun day will have a real `get active' and chill-out theme for all ages."
The green project has seen 90,000 trees planted on former agricultural and open cast land at Upper Woodhead, which adjoins the timeless beauty-spot.
They include oak, ash, birch, sweet chestnut and hazel. Over two kilometres of new public trails have also been
created.
The scheme was undertaken by the Forestry Commission and South Yorkshire Forest Partnership, with funding from Objective 1 and Yorkshire Forward.
Star turns at the event will include a chance to try amatsu, a form of Japanese physiotherapy, along with zumba dancing – a fitness routine rooted in Latin dance – circus skills, reflexology, buggyfit and environmental art.
There will be Nordic walking expeditions through the trees, and invitations to saddle-up for cycling and turn your hand to conservation tasks.
Events are free and run from 11am-3pm. Please note, only disabled parking will be available on the site, which is off Woodhead Lane. For more information call 01302 820278, or visit www.forestry.gov.uk/YorkshireandtheHumber
The expanded Wombwell Wood now covers 145-hectares (362-acres) of rolling countryside. Woods are defined as `ancient' if they appear on the earliest reliable maps, which date to around the 1600s in England.
The gnarled old oaks of Wombwell probably date back much further still. Such woods are amongst the most valuable habitats in the country for animals and flora.
Open cast operations were carried out at Upper Woodhead until 2005 by mining firm HJ Banks Ltd. Now as part of an agreement that also saw the Forestry Commission acquire Wombwell Woods, the land has been restored to community woodland, complete with areas of grassland and wild flowers.
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Weather for South Yorkshire
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
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