Community Woodland

Following the inception of the South West Forest in 1998, 12 new community woodlands have been created. In addition to this there are a further 15 that provide public access and in total this amounts to around 500 hectares of accessible land with some 60 kilometres of footpath and 3.5 kilometres of bridleway.

If you would like to find out more or wish to visit the community woodlands, hover over the map or scroll down the page.

South West Forest Community Woodland

1 • Bratton Fleming Woods, Bratton Fleming

Bratton Fleming Community Woodlands is a partnership between Bratton Fleming Parish Council and the Huxtable family of Parsonage Farm. Together they have created a broadleaf woodland on the edge of the village for both wildlife and recreation.

2 • Whiddon Valley Woods, Barnstaple

Whiddon Valley has been owned by North Devon District Council (NDDC) since 1990 ~ before this the original woodland was called Maidenford Woods. The woodland encompasses the Coney Gut stream that runs the whole length of the site and there are a number of bridges allowing people to cross.

3 • South Molton Community Woodland, South Molton

Planted in 1993 and owned by South Molton Town Council, the woodland is now managed by a very active group, Friends of South Molton Community Woodland, set up in 2004. The Friends run community events in both the woodland and the town. The group help to maintain the woodland through a programme of pruning, coppicing, hedgelaying, meadow management and footpath remediation.

For further information about the woodland, the friends group and future events please contact the Town Clerk: Tel: 01769 572501

4 • Quarry Wood, High Bickington

The wood, which is about 6 acres in extent, was planted by volunteers in January 2005 to provide space for: The trees themselves - for shelter, timber products and carbon reduction; Recreation - for people to walk and enjoy the countryside away from traffic; Conservation - for wildlife to flourish close to the village; Education - for children (and grown ups too) to learn about the environment and traditional crafts.

Quarry Wood is looked after by a group of volunteers on behalf of High Bickington Community Property Trust.

5 • Foxdown Woods, Great Torrington

A circular walk of approximately 1.5 miles takes you through this gently sloping site of 67 acres. Planted in 2005 by the Newcombe family it has been a community project from the beginning with planting help from Horwood and Newton Tracey Primary school, Torrington Junior school and other local people.

6 • Berridon Woods, Bradworthy

Lofty beech trees and a raucous rookery in a stand of trees adjoining the car park provide a noisy welcome to this otherwise peaceful woodland. Planted in 1999 by the Stubbs family it gave an alternative use for the land other than pasture for dairy cows with the advantage of opening up access to land for the local community.

7 • Sheepwash Woodland, Hatherleigh

Having all their livestock culled during the Foot & Mouth crisis in 2002 caused the Pedrick family to look again at their farm and how different areas could best be used. This particular stretch of land was close to the village, had the river running through it and was already semi-wild in places, an ideal site to create a woodland and wetland area that would be a wildlife haven and a wonderful place for the local community to enjoy.

8 • Thorne Park Forest, Kilkhampton

Covering nearly 16 hectares this site was planted in 1999. An uncertain future in agriculture prompted the owner, Mr Jewell, to seek an alternative use for this part of his land in a way which would benefit the local community and encourage wildlife.

In the spring a wealth of dandelions turns the whole site a glowing yellow.

9 • Whalesborough Woods, Bude

This woodland of 20 hectares was planted in two separate blocks by the Proudfoot family in 2001. Linking the canal towpath to the coastpath the woodlands can be accessed from Widemouth Bay or the Woodland tea rooms at Whalesborough. Parking at Whalesborough, you can follow the canal back towards Bude and branch off before Rodds Bridge across a boardwalk into the woodland, to follow the Northerly woodland trail to Upton. You may also access the Southerly route from the tea room car park or from Widemouth Bay car park. You may also explore the Hele Valley trail leading up to Marhamchurch from the tea rooms taking the towpath crossing the A39.

10 • Hopworthy Woods, Bridgerule

Planted in 2005 this is very much a family run concern. The site is dedicated to the protection and conservation of wildlife and to provide an opportunity for reflection in our busy lives. The management and maintenance of the site is undertaken by the family, with help from the local community, nearby schools, and young adults with learning difficulties from North Devon College.

11 • Hele Valley Trail, Bude

The Grills family have long held a vision of creating a woodland rich in wildlife habitat which could be enjoyed by everyone, particularly the people of Marhamchurch. Their wish is that the Hele Valley Trail becomes an example of multi-use woodland, providing recreation, conservation, landscape improvement and in the long term, timber production. This idea became a reality in 2004 when, working with partners in the community, they planted some 7 hectares at Hele Bridge, creating a long thin woodland running alongside the river Strat. Bude Town Council were particularly supportive as the trail extended the existing walks along the canal and Bude Rotary made a generous donation to mark their centenary.

12 • Old Town Park, Okehampton

Old Town Park Local Nature Reserve flanks the southern bank of the West Okement River and lies within the northern boundary of Dartmoor National Park. This area was once part of Okehampton Castle’s deer park. Archaeological evidence from the castle’s kitchen waste shows that Fallow Deer were introduced by the original Norman occupiers in the 11th century when the deer park was created. The castle ramparts gave a bird’s eye view of the chase, looking across into what is now Old Town Park where the scene of the final kill may have taken place.

13 • Barton Millennium Wood, Launceston

This wood was planted by David Polglase in 1999 with community encouragement, to provide a space for quiet recreation. Ownership has now passed to Jo FitzGerald and Terry Faull of Lower Chipmans who are managing the woodland to enhance its long term wildlife value.

The site was formerly farmland on the heavy acidic clays and sedimentary beds of the Culm Measures; the natural habitat of the Culm is poorly drained, wet grasslands which can support a rich array of plants and insects. One of the spring lines arising locally crosses the site and is tapped, close to its source, by a “Holy Well”. Such wells formed a network of holy sites across the region: this particular well, which may date back to the 6th Century, takes its dedication from the nearby Church of St Paternus and can be found along the public footpath and just outside the north western corner of the wood.

14 • Tredidon Barton, Launceston

Plenty of energy and an entrepreneurial spirit has driven farm diversification here at the Hidden Valley. These woodlands, planted in 2002, have been created to complement a thriving tourist attraction and given time may offer more to see than a lovely country walk.