Go Furness

Fell Foot Wood

Fell Foot Woods is opposite Fell Foot Park and is a magical space with an outdoor stage, covered in vines and leaves. There is also an uncovered stage named the witch’s stage and the whole place really does stir up all things primal. It reminds me of making dens and forts in the woods as a kid, but the construction of the covered area is solid and safe enough to encompass sound and lighting equipment. The woods are full of little secret glades where people can camp and the woodland overlooks the Lake Windermere.

The woodland serves as an operating base for Lakeland Forest Fuels who supply wood-based and other solid fuels and Calor LPG and related camping and leisure equipment. The woodland is managed as a fuel wood resource and is now being managed and developed to provide wild camping and camping based events.

Barry has previously worked in various Local Government departments such as education, health, social services, .highways, trading standards and estates. He got the idea to develop the outdoor events venue when he saw how successful his daughter’s 18 party/gig was and the buzz that the young people had camping outside.

He loves the woods, his myspace profile reads:

The Home of Pancosmic Pyromanticism
Male, 100 years old
Overlooking Lake Windermere, English Lake District, ?United Kingdom

Who I’d like to meet:
Other woods for serious relationships & possible biodiversity. People who want to stay here for wild camping events. Make contact through Barry at Lakeland Forest Fuels.

I don’t think he really is a 100 years old, but maybe he feels like it after 25 years involved in forestry activities! His profile does demonstrate a wicked sense of humour, a love of artistic people and his own growing interest in poetry.

His greatest challenges in running his own business have been responding to market conditions, controlling innovation and restructuring as necessary.

He is rising to these challenges by working extremely hard, and making the most appropriate actions relative to individual circumstances i.e managing “change”.

Management is the key to Barry’s progress. He aims to manage his business and develop and grow it in a sustainable way without commercial exploitation or neglect of the woodland he loves so much.

His advice to other young entrepreneurs?

“Get the fundamentals right and build a good reputation.”

Some future events include the Lost in the Woods May event with live music and camping. For more information please check out Barry’s myspace. Barry does have a website in the pipe line and once he has overcome a few technical hitches, you can see for yourself what a fabulous spot this is!

Posted by Kay Hebbourn on 8th April.