It was an exciting day in the woodland last week as our new cabin was successfully delivered and carefully positioned on site.
Getting a large structure into a woodland setting is never the simplest of jobs. With the help of a specialist crane lorry and a skilled delivery team, the cabin was manoeuvred carefully through the trees before being gently lowered into place, with volunteers guiding the positioning on the ground.
It was a real team effort and wonderful to see the cabin finally settled amongst the trees.
The cabin will provide an important new classroom and meeting space, allowing us to host small groups, volunteer briefings, educational visits and planning sessions right here in the woodland. Having a dedicated indoor space will make a big difference to the work we do — especially when the Isle of Wight weather decides not to cooperate.
To help the cabin blend naturally into its surroundings, it will soon be painted green. If the weather behaves.
Inside, the cabin is bright and practical, with plenty of natural light and a long work surface that will work well for group discussions and learning sessions. We are currently on the lookout for a some fold-up chairs so that visitors, volunteers and groups have somewhere comfortable to sit. If anyone happens to have suitable chairs they no longer need, or knows of some available at a good price, please do get in touch.
The ground in front of the cabin still needs levelling and a step will be added to make access easier. However, we have been advised to allow the ground to settle first before doing any final adjustments, so that work will take place a little later once everything has naturally bedded in.
In other news from elsewhere in the woodland the pond is doing well. The water is settling nicely and the habitat is already beginning to develop as nature starts to take hold.
Projects like this help us build a richer and more resilient woodland environment, supporting a wide range of wildlife alongside our much-loved red squirrels.
A big thank you to everyone involved in helping make this happen.
If you haven’t had the opportunity yet and you’d like to support this vital work, or join us in the woods, every donation and every pair of helping hands makes a difference. See below for links that will take you to ways to help: 💚
Become a Volunteer – Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust
Donate Here – Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust
Register to Give As You Live Here – Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust