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Stoney Wood is Wirksworth’s Millennium woodland planted in the area recovered from Stonecroft Quarry. The land on which the wood is planted was donated by Tarmac Ltd to Wirksworrth Town Council. The original planting was started by tarmac but later sections were planted by local adults and children in a project inspired by the Foret Giorno woodland near Wirksworh’s twin town of Die in France.
The idea for the project goes back to a visit made to Wirksworth’s French twin town of Die in 1994. in a village near to Die, visitors from Wirksworth were shown round the ‘Foret Giono’ where much of the tree planting had been done by local children. The project had been inspired by the writer jean Giono’s story of a solitary shepherd who replanted mountainsides with trees. The book – ‘The Man Who Planted Trees’ had inspired the wood in France and this project in turn gave impetus to the project to reclaim the quarry-tip in Wirksworth. More on Jean Giono
Work on the site
Following initial planting by Tarmac in 1995 regular work parries have been held at the woodland. In addition to planting trees, volunteers have built two bridges, created an access route for wheelchair users and are now putting the finishing touches to the cairn at the highest point to house a view point.
A Major feature of the wood is an enormous Infinity Loop by the artist Veronica West constructed of limestone boulders.
Staying in touch
The members of the group stays in touch using an email group supported by Yahoo Groups. You can self regsiter as a member of this email group. Joining Stoney Wood email group
What the Stoney Wood Group hopes to do.
(Mission Statement)
The Stoney Wood Group consists of local volunteer members. The works closely with Wirksworth Town Council and other local organisations to promote good management of the wood:
- To conserve the natural environment of the Wood including flora, fauna and areas of geological importance.
- To promote public enjoyment of the wood through:
- provision of appropriate means of public access and interpretation
- encouragement of appropriate community and cultural activities
- To promote the formal and informal educational use of the Wood for the benefit of people of all ages.
 The bridge in situe with the infinity loop behind
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