News
A new Forest Boundary Stone has been erected in the Speech House Arboretum. The stone celebrates 200 years since the passing of the Dean Forest (Timber) Act. This act enabled extensive re-planting of Oak trees in the Forest of Dean.
Our Tour Guide News:
Forest of Dean and Wye valley Tour Guides on BBC radio.
Pete Wilson of BBC Radio Gloucestershire
Our guides have featured in two radio programmes made by Pete Wilson for BBC Radio Gloucestershire. The programmes, each 1 hour in length, were broadcast on Sunday 24th of August and Sunday 31st of August 2008.
Echo, Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail
The opening of 'Echo' on the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail on Sunday 20th July 2008.
The Sculpture was designed by Annie Cattrell (far right). After many research visits to the Forest, Annie produced the work in Bristol. This resin based sculpture contains aluminium powder to produce just the effect Annie was looking for. It echos the quarry in which it sits. It also echos itself on each side with both 'positive' and 'negative' depictions of the face of the quarry.
Miners Memorial Topograph
The unveiling of the Miners Memorial Topograph at Pan Tod Ruardean Hill on Saturday 31st May 2008.
The Topograph was erected by Ruardean Hill Residents Association. Mark Harper M.P. for the Forest of Dean unvieled the Topograph. The sculpture was designed by Bernard Kear and made by Christine Baxter.
Forest of Dean Geomap at New Fancy view.
The Forest of Dean Geomap was unveiled by Mark Harper M.P. and Deputy Gaveller John Harvey O.B.E. on May 3rd 2008. The Geomap was constructed by sculptor David Yeates at The Stenders, Mitcheldean before being assembled on site. The 900 square feet of rock strata depicted in the Geomap are built from samples of the rock they represent. The work is designed to be walked on. The discs represent the locations of iron and coal mines and quarries. The black lines represent coal seams and the white lines railway routes.
The Geomap is one of the features we visit on our Mallards Pike walk.
We are working on new guided walks and details will appear soon on this web site.
The Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean contains one of the largest areas of woodland in the U.K. Recently Wild Boar have joined the fauna of the Forest.
The Forest was a 'Royal Forest' from the middle ages until 1973 when H.M. The Queen relinquished her claim to the Forest of Dean.
Above is the "Miner's Brass" from Newland 'All Saints' church. This depiction of a 14th century iron miner is the emblem of the Forest of Dean.
The miner is holding up his Mattock. He has his 'Nellie' or candle holder in his mouth and has a 'Hod' on his back. The Hod was used to carry the iron ore.