Avon wood is a private project to create a new biodiverse woodland in Warwickshire. All of the species planted are native, and the saplings provided by Warwickshire based nurseries. The site is a former arable field, situated on the B4115 between Hill Wootton and Leek Wootton.
The plot is 32 acres, bordered to the north by the road and the south by the river Avon. The main body is designated as oak woodland, with 30% oak saplings. By the river, which is subject to occasional flooding, the design is wet woodland, and planted predominantly with different species of willow and osier. By the road the designation is oak with edge colour, provided by the planting of cherry, wild pear and crab apple alongside the oak mix.
16,300 tree saplings, comprising 30 different species, and 1,800 shrubs, 7 species, were planted in November 2018. 23% of the site is made up of rides, glades and wildflower meadow, with the shrubs planted on the edges to create dense borders. Dead saplings are not routinely replaced to encourage natural canopy gaps and only the rides are mown, all of which encourages a variety of light and undergrowth environments on the forest floor, to encourage a diversity of food chains and species.
The site and management plan have been assessed under the woodland carbon code to sequester 2338 tonnes equivalent of carbon dioxide over 75 years. This is subject to periodic audit to ensure the woodland develops as expected, and management principles followed.
Access to the woodland is restricted to minimise human impact on nature. Volunteers who help with general maintenance and specifics such as pest control and beekeeping are encouraged as are naturalists who help catalogue species. Purely recreational access is not permitted (there are no rights of way), and particularly no dog walking due to the risk to ground nesting birds.
Thanks to Robin Truslove of Nicholson's for the initial design and project management, and to HS2 for the grant. And thanks to everyone who has participated as a volunteer or friend of Avon Wood. If you'd like to get involved or register for permitted access please contact David Harding on dcih@icloud.com.