Our Ethos
When we set up New Caledonian Woodlands, our aim was
to establish an organisation that would help bring about real environmental
improvements in Scotland. We wanted to enhance biodiversity while
also being of benefit to local communities by helping them to improve
local environmental assets. So in December 2006, New Caledonian
Woodlands was set up as a not-for-profit organisation, and here
we now are!
We believe that many of the global environmental problems faced
today are interconnected and so need to be tackled in a joined-up
way. We think that planting the right kind of trees to offset carbon
produced by our actions is a good thing to do. Planting trees also
enhances biodiversity by creating and enhancing habitats for thousands
of species of native birds, mammals, plants and insects.
However, we recognise that tree planting is not enough on its own. Scotland simply does not have the available space needed to plant all of the trees required to offset the carbon we emit. In addition, your tree will take perhaps 100 years to offset the carbon emissions you cause this year alone, so by ordering a tree you are not buying a ‘quick fix’ – you are investing in the future.
This means that as well as planting trees, we need to also alter
our behaviour by switching to more energy efficient technology
and reducing our energy usage in other ways. This could be through
making our homes more energy-efficient, leaving the car at home
and using public transport and flying less.
We really believe that a great way to learn more about the environment
and what we can do to safeguard it for future generations is to
get involved in various environmental activities. Such hands-on
involvement has the additional advantage of helping to enhance
environmental assets for local communities.
This is why we have put together a series of projects that we hope will appeal to as many people as possible. From affordable biodiversity weekends to team building days for groups of work colleagues and tree planting days and weekends, we have a lot to offer. Most importantly, we think that our events are friendly, informative and fun – as well as providing great exercise in the outdoors. We hope that you will be inspired to find out more and get involved!
About Us
New Caledonian Woodlands started as an idea some years ago that has gradually developed into the organisation which now exists. In the year before New Caledonian Woodlands began to deliver projects, a board of directors began to form itself, and now the New Caledonian Woodlands board consists of Andy Ross, Emma Margrett, Helen Nyul and Chris Peach.
The group share a common love of the natural environment and care about the protection and enhancement of the environment, both in Scotland and globally. There is a sense within the organisation that a mixture of hands-on environmental conservation and environmental education represents a strong means of encouraging people to reduce their impact on the environment. New Caledonian Woodlands for us represents a way that we can make a real difference to the world around us, and make a contribution which we hope will benefit both current and future generations.
New Caledonian Woodlands aims to operate in a manner which is highly professional at all times. To do this, it is necessary to build quality into the structure of the organisation. For this reason, the organisation is currently developing a formal system of environmental and social accounting which will allow it to identify weaknesses in these areas and to improve performance over time. New Caledonian Woodlands also hopes to work towards ‘Investors in Volunteer’ status during 2009.
Website credits
Many thanks to Michela Hayes-Griffin for graphic design and branding work on the New Caledonian Woodlands logo.
Thanks to Richard Rowe for editing work and some of the photgraphs (as credited).
Website design and scripting © 2007 textlynx web and print services.
Support credits
Thanks to Jo Dunlop for ongoing advice and support in relation to marketing.
We would like to acknowledge the ongoing support received from Community Enterprise and ScotlandUnLtd.
