Devon Wildlife Trust has announced that one of its most popular and beautiful nature
reserves is about to grow.
An extra 3 hectares of land have been bought by the charity to add to its existing
33 hectare nature reserve of Andrew's Wood, near Loddiswell, in South Devon. The
purchase was made possible after the Devon Wildlife Trust secured generous support
from the Heritage Lottery Fund and donations from DWT supporters.
The new land is known locally as Wizaller Wood and is a charming mix of silver
birch, oak, ash, hazel and willow. Along with hundreds of plants and animals the
wood is home to bats, wildflowers and woodpeckers.
The new wildlife haven will be looked after by Devon Wildlife Trust's Jackie Gage.
Jackie said:
'Along with local volunteers I've helped look after Andrew's Wood for the past 7
years and in that time it's become one of my favourite of all the 49 Devon Wildlife
Trust nature reserves. So I was thrilled when the news came that Wizaller Wood was
coming our way. It will make a wonderful new extension to what is already a haven
for local wildlife.'
The woodland is thought to be especially rich in rare lichens, mosses and fungi.
Alongside these local dormice are another species that stand to benefit from the
news. Andrew's Wood is already something of a 'dormouse hotspot' with a
well-established colony. Jackie said:
'Dormice are animals which have struggled in many parts of the country during recent
decades. But here at Andrew's Wood we have a good population. The funding from the
Heritage Lottery Fund is allowing us to put up a further 30 dormouse nest boxes in
the new Wizaller Wood part of the reserve. These should ensure that the dormice can
thrive and spread.'
Visitors to Wizaller Wood are being welcomed by the Trust. Like all of its nature
reserves it is free to enter and has a network of marked trails, which although
muddy, make good winter walks.
Jackie added:
'Visitors to Wizaller Wood will see that we've already been busy managing the place
for wildlife. We've cleared invasive species such as rhododendron, created
wildflower glades and coppiced some trees to encourage new tree growth. A new public
path has also been cut to join the reserve with the local network of public
footpaths, ensuring that it becomes more easily accessible to local people and
visitors.'
Andrew's Wood and its new extension Wizaller Wood can be reached from the A38. Take
the Ugborough-Yealmpton turn off. Turn left on to the A3121, and at Kitterford Cross
go straight across towards Loddiswell on the B3196. At California Crosstake the
left-hand fork just past a petrol station (signed Loddiswell). The entrance and car
park at Andrew's Wood lie 250m beyond Coldharbour Cross. A track leads down into the
nature reserve.
More details on this and DWT's 48 other nature reserves from www.devonwildlifetrust.org
Devon Wildlife Trust Andrew's Wood nature reserve is growing. Photo copyright Simon Williams. (All rights reserved)
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