huddersfield Woodscape achieve king's award for voluntary service
Woodscape, a charity run by a group of volunteers based in the Bradley, Deighton and Brackenhall area of Huddersfield have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
Woodscape volunteers look after Screamer, Dyson, Bradley Gate and Lower Fell Greave Woods, a connected network of ancient woodland that was badly damaged by fire in 1976. The woods were neglected and blighted by fly tipping and anti-social behaviour until Woodscape was formed by four local residents who started looking after them in the early 1990’s. Slowly, over the years with the help of 100’s of volunteers the woods were transformed into the much loved, valued and well used community resource they are today.
Woodscape undertake conservation work to restore the areas of ancient woodland damaged by the fire. Building and maintaining footpaths and bridges, planting trees and hedgerows, controlling invasive species and running a community allotment are just a few of the things you will find them doing every week regardless of the weather conditions! Woodscape meet on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons.
Woodscape is one of 231 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Late Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee and was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King. 2025 marks the third year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. Recipients are announced annually on 14th November, The King’s Birthday
Representatives of Woodscape will receive the award crystal and certificate from Professor Adeeba Malik, CBE, DL, Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire in the coming months. In addition, two volunteers from Woodscape will attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
Keith Hunter a Trustee of Woodscape said:
“It is amazing that all the hard work our volunteers past and present have done to restore and improve our little bit of ancient woodland over the past 30+ years has been recognised in this way”.
Find out more about Woodscape from their Facebook Page