Fresh new ownership

Spreading over 800 acres of land on the south side of the River Teign Gorge.The magnificent Fingle Woods is now curated by the Woodland Trust. A charity set up solely to protect and conserve woodland through out the UK.

With the help of Public donations and a partnership with the national trust they were able to purchase these woods from a private landowner who had recently leased it to a pheasant shoot syndicate. That meant a lot of the wood was closed to the public. However that has now changed under the new ownership and it is all open for people to enjoy.

Over half of the woods were put down some years ago to commercial foresting which has seen the stifling growth of closely planted conifers. The plan is to slowly thin these species out and over a period of 100 years create an ancient wood in their place. Having native trees within the wood will allow more light and air down to the forest floor enabling wild flowers and fauna to flourish thus creating a better habitat for animals and other wild life to exist.

These stunning areas of natural wilderness are always in the sights of the rapacious commerce that ultimate want to develop the land one way or another for financial gain. So its heartening to know that not only the woods are now protected but the thousands of other wild species will be able to go about their business unmolested.

That’s what i particularly like about the managers ethos, is they are not promoting the woods as a playground parkland but more a quiet wonderland that refreshes you bodily and spiritually. Apart from some winter days of tree thinning , deer culling and track restoration there isn’t much interference from mankind. You hardly ever hear an engine, or see any litter, or get any phone signal!! That’s great.

The river track has now been resurfaced with aggregate from Fingle Bridge to steps Bridge making that beautiful walk more accessible for wheel and pushchairs. For donations/volunteering or any other information go to www.woodlandtrust.org.uk