Alvecote Wood

This section of the web site is about Alvecote Wood. For years when cycling past this wood, we have wondered who owned it. It looked neglected but beautiful, and we thought idly that if it ever came up for sale, we'd be interested in owning it and managing it for wildlife.

Then Stephen was riding past one day and noticed a For Sale board in the ditch at the edge of the wood. We looked the details up on the Agent's web site, and placed an offer which has been accepted (subject to contract). An idle dream has (almost!) become reality.

The area is almost entirely composed of mature oak (both pedunculate and sessile) with hawthorn and elder - only a few other types of tree at the woodland margin, and a superb crab apple deep in the wood. It is 11.5 acres, with a large clearing, a stream at the margin that crosses the wood part of the way down, a little pond on the stream, and a larger pond marked on the map that has not been managed and has subsequently become bog. There is a derelict barn and a derelict cattle/goat shed, and an internal enclosure. We know there are badgers from the setts and footprints. The neighbour tells us there are muntjac deer too, but we've seen no trace so far.

Internally it is very overgrown and difficult to access and we hope to improve this, making paths that don't damage wildlife habitats. We hope to put up nest boxes and manage the clearing and old pond area. Ultimately we want to make this a wildlife haven, and a lovely place to visit.

This page will update as the project develops. In the meantime - here are some photos!

To help with managing the site, we've bought a tractor! If you'd like to see the progress with restoring an elderly Massey Ferguson 188, please click here.