LAST week it was confirmed by the Forestry Commission that the award-winning woodland, Byway Woods at Bickleigh, near Cheriton Fitzpaine, has Ash Dieback, the first reported case in Devon.

The woodland belongs to retired "Farmer John" Greenslade of BBC Radio Devon fame and this year's president of the Mid Devon Show.

Sections of the woodland won first and second prize in the woodland competitions at this year's Devon County Show.

The woodland has been planted and nurtured by John and his family during the past 25 years.

They started planting trees after the farm was struck by TB and cattle were destroyed.

As a result fertilisers were no longer needed on the land, so wild flowers which dislike rich soils made a welcome return.

This inspired John to enhance an environment which had much of the wildlife he remembered as a child, which could be enjoyed by future generations.

The woodland is now a wildlife haven that consists of 80 acres of stunning wood and meadowland with a number of wildlife ponds.

It has been John and his family's passion to share this amazing place with the wider community to allow us all to see the countryside in a "natural" state and learn about the diversity of wildlife we have in Devon.

At Byway Woods you can see everything from wild Orchids to Dormice or stunning ancient Oaks to newly planted saplings.

Annually The Greenslade's host a Bluebell walk in Aid of Children's Hospice South West. This year, more than 120 people attended, raising £600.

Recently John and family formed a partnership with a Crediton-based Devon charity, The Tanglewood Project, who work with communities connecting people with nature and sharing traditional skills.

The Tanglewood Project is in the process of establishing Byway Woods as their "Home Base" and since taking on the woods has visited the woods regularly with groups from a diversity of backgrounds.

Nick Mussell, chairman of the charity, told us: "When we met 'Farmer John' and walked his incredible woods and meadows, we at Tanglewood never imagined we would be so lucky as to be able to call such a magical place our home.

"Since learning two weeks ago that Ash Dieback was on his land, John has been very quick in reacting.

"Last week Tanglewood assisted John and his family in digging up approximately 1,500 young Ash trees which were then burned.

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