TWO local newly-planted woodlands are among four in Devon in the running to be named the UK’s best.
The Woodland Trust has shortlisted the sites created by members of the public in Brendon, West Putford, Crediton and Winkleigh in its quest to find the best woodland created under its “MOREwoods” project.
Viv and Greg Martin of Crediton are the proud owners of a very new wood.
They and their sons Joe and Harry, together with Harry’s wife and two friends, braved the elements to plant 500 trees during four very wet and cold days last winter.
Their other son Tim and his partner Amanda planted a large apple tree the following week to ensure the family have a steady supply of fruit to munch on each summer.
Viv said: "We love our little wood, even though it’s quite a modest little area and to most people probably not very impressive yet.
“We recently finished mulching the trees and so now all we need do for a bit is watch the little leaves coming on.
"We love the peace there - we have seen roe deer, a hare, woodcock, any amount of lizards, voles, masses and masses of birds, and there’s evidence of badgers, though we haven’t seen any yet. It’s lovely.
"We are probably a bit too old to be able to see it grow to maturity, but it will be there for the boys and their families and hopefully for further generations too, and we intend to keep it as a little wildlife haven in a world where habitat is becoming rarer and rarer."
WOODLAND NEAR WINKLEIGH
Jennifer Penny planted 500 trees at her home in Winkleigh three years ago, with help from her friend Maurice and daughter Heather.
Her grandchildren Jessica and Alex love spending time in the fledgling wood.
Jennifer said: "My brother died last year very suddenly at the age of 61. Sadly it focuses the mind on how short our time on this earth is.
“I love my wood. It will be there long after I have gone and in the meantime it is brilliant to see it come to life every spring and grow at such a rate.
"Numerous pheasants call it their home and it is frequently visited by deer, foxes, badgers and rabbits. Friends and family enquire about it and for the first time this year the wild cherry blossom has been noticeable. It is wonderful."
CHARLIE WOOD
In 2012, Steve and Kate Blinstrub planted 400 trees in memory of their son Charlie, or Chaz, who died that year aged 25 from acute myeloid leukaemia.
They were planted in one of the front fields at their farm near Brendon, amidst an area of established woodland and fenced off to prevent them being damaged by cows and sheep.
As the trees flourished, the couple successfully asked Ordnance Survey if they could get the whole area named on maps as "Charlie Wood" to commemorate their son’s life.
1,175 TREES
Jenni and Andrew Guy had help from local schoolchildren when they planted 1,175 trees over an eighth of a hectare at their West Putford beef farm in 2013.
The children now benefit from their endeavours as the farm hosts educational visits and Care farming sessions and in September will be starting a new enterprise called Wild Tribe as part of the survival days it has run for the last three years.
Seventeen other woods across the country are also in the running for the title.
The competition winner, who will receive a professional photoshoot in their wood and a wooden bench or sculpture to the value of £500, will be decided by BBC Countryfile Diaries presenter Paul Martin, Woodland Trust Chief Executive Beccy Speight and Director of Woodland Creation John Tucker and announced this month.
Since it started in 2010, “MOREwoods” has seen the creation of more than 1,500 hectares of woodland and the planting of more than two million trees across the UK.
Anyone who wishes to plant a minimum half a hectare of their land (1.25 acres) can sign up to “MOREwoods”.
The Woodland Trust offers expert advice and guidance on creating native woodland and can provide the best species mix for each site. The Trust will also contribute up to 60 per cent of the set up costs and for larger sites of a hectare or more can arrange to plant the trees as well.
Alan Quick