Woodland and Conservation
When we moved here in 1980 the woodland consisted of a few acres of old mixed hardwoods and six acres of Douglas fir and Norway spruce. Dartmoor and the surrounding valleys have a history of softwood plantings and the steep valleys of the south west provide many sites for fine and valuable plantations. Our Douglas and Spruce have been regularly thinned over the years and now form a good example of small scale forestry.
We have planted 43 acres of mixed hardwoods over the last 12 years. These form shelter belts, and larger blocks on steep ground and around arable fields link with other planted areas to form a more or less continuous sweep of woodland. The first land planted to oak, ash and chestnut now has specimens 25 feet tall and makes a real impact on the landscape. Oak forms about 50% of the planting and it is possible to imagine that in 100 years time a developed oak woodland, with its associated flora and fauna, will exist. In 1995 In recognition of our work The Forestry presented us with a Centre of Excellence Award. The award cited 'improving the quality of the landscape, creating benefits for wildlife and growing timber in environmentally sound ways'.
Tree planting has many benefits besides the production of future timber: habitat creation and improved bio-diversity. Our woodland, which includes rides, open spaces and shrub species such as hazel, guelder rose and hawthorn, and the creation of Bridesmere provides a valuable home for many birds and mammals. Until recently a barn owl was living in one of our old barns, feeding on the small mammals now numerous in the rough grass of the plantations. We have seen all three types of woodpeckers here and kingfishers visit the lake, but the Teign, where spreints are regularly found, has yet to lend us one of its otters. Bridesmere has a resident population of mallard and moorhens and many other wildfowl visit: Canada geese nest on the island every spring and we occasionally see coot, teal, tufted duck, dabchick and pochard.
Devon's farmland remains a checkerboard of small fields, most enclosed by traditional hedges. Our fields are no exception and all have hedges or trees around them. We aim for a three-year hedge trimming cycle; and, together with conservation headlands around the arable fields, the hedgerows provide a valuable habitat and food supply for wildlife.