History of the wood

It is an ancient woodland, this means that it has been woodland since at least 1600 and the accepted theory states that woodland predating 1600 is likely to have been woodland since the reforestation following the last ice age , 10,000 years ago. This is charcterised by the spectactular flush of bluebells in the spring, the overstood coppice oak, which judging from the size of the stumps have been here many hundreds of years.

There is also evidence of charcoal makers in the past by the presence of numerous old charcoal hearths. These are indicated by flat semi-circular depressions in the gentle mossy slopes.These are likely to date from 1700 to 1900 or later

I am at present looking into the history of the wood. The presence of the out grown oak coppice and the numerous old charcoal hearths shows that charcoal making was a key element to the working practise of the woodland. We feel that in us making charcoal now, we are not only restoring the trees and the ecosystem, we are also reviving the old industry that has made this woodland the way it is today.

During the early 1980's approximately 18 acres of oak was removed from the centre of the woodland and replanted with Larch and Douglas fir, presumably as a cash crop. Some of the oak came back as coppice, but after 30 years in the shade of the softwoods, it has been struggling for light.

The oak that was removed then was taken further into South Wales to be used as pit props.