New chair elected for woodland trust

Rob Vane, 33, has been elected chairman of the popular Waingroves Community Woodland Trust after the retirement of John Stamp.

Rob is very much a ‘local lad’ having grown up in Waingroves and spent many happy hours as a child playing in the woodland.

Rob has been a very active trustee of the woodland for a number of years playing a significant role in both practical woodland management and arranging fundraising events, he is also a member of Waingroves Village Show committee.

Rob lives in Church Street, Waingroves, with his wife Sam and family Kai, Jamie and Eloise.

He runs a business undertaking property services including landscaping and small building work.

On being elected Rob said: “The woodland is a great community facility here in Waingroves so it is a great honour to now become chairman.

“I’m jumping in at the deep end as we have a busy year ahead.”

The annual general meeting of Waingroves Community Woodland Trust was held at the Thorntree pub on Wednesday, May 25.

Along with electing the new chairman, other officers were elected for the coming year and the annual report was received from retiring Chairman, John Stamp in which he complemented trustees for all the hard work and specifically the development of the very large ‘Wetland Project’ ,which has been completed solely by woodland volunteers over a period of one year, using a National Lottery grant of £7,200.

The other trust officers elected were -

n Secretary, Andy Hall

n Treasurer, Paul Cox

n Conservation, Shaun Walter

n Risk/Safety, Craig Plunkett

n Heritage, Margaret and Peter Chamberlain

n Public Relations, John Stamp

n Lottery, Dave Pountain

John Stamp formally stated his intention to retire from the post of chairman after leading the group for five years and at the annual general meeting received a proposal by trustee Tony Blount thanking John for significant contribution to the community woodland.

John said: “It has actually been a great pleasure to work alongside hard working trust members. Sincere congratulations to chairman Rob and I hope to remain a trustee and support our marvellous community and its’ woodland but in a rather more quiet way.”

For more on Waingroves Community Woodland Trust see www.waingroveswood.com