Embedded Files
9: Harpford Common and the Northern Woodlands
9: Harpford Common and the Northern Woodlands
Discover the northern woods of Sidmouth. Walk the old railway line in Harpford Wood, see the Fire Beacon grazing project, and explore the veteran trees of Core Hill.
Located across the A3052, the Harpford Common area represents some of the most diverse woodland management in the Sid Valley. From commercial timber production to lowland heath restoration, these sites demonstrate how nature can reclaim man-made landscapes.
Owned by Clinton Devon Estates, this massive 71.84-hectare woodland is one of the largest in the region.
The "Saving Grace": The wood is transected by the redundant Sidmouth branch railway line, which closed in 1967. Nature has reclaimed this corridor, creating sun-dappled glades, shaded cuttings, and a haven for unfurling spring ferns.
Composition: It features a mix of conifer plantations and broadleaf trees, including "huge trees" noted by the Woodland Trust.
Survey Findings: With a woodland species dominance of 65.5%, it sits below the 70% "established" threshold, likely due to its significant history as a timber plantation.
Accessibility: While some forest paths are steep, the former railway corridor provides a flat, easy route that is now part of the National Cycle Network Route 248.
Managed by Forestry England, this site sits roughly 3 km north of the town centre within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Lowland Heath Recovery: Historically, this area was a rare lowland heath ecosystem. While 20th-century conifer planting suppressed this habitat, the Fire Beacon Grazing Project is now working to bring it back.
Cattle Conservation: The project uses cattle with electronic collars to graze the area, helping to create a mosaic of heathland and wood pasture to increase biodiversity.
Situated on the typical high ground of the valley, this 10.4-hectare wood is managed by the Woodland Trust.
Veteran Trees: Management here focuses specifically on conserving veteran trees and boundary banks.
Geology: The wood sits on a plateau of clay-with-flints over Upper Greensand, a substrate that naturally supports heathland habitats.
Botanical Interest: Visitors may spot Wood Avens, giant bracket fungi on mature beech trees, and even a persistent colony of Giant Hogweed that is currently being managed.
Comparison of the Northern Woodlands
Comparison of the Northern Woodlands
Feature Harpford Wood Fire Beacon Plantation Core Hill Wood
Manager Clinton Estates Forestry England Woodland Trust
Size 71.84 Hectares Part of wider AONB 10.4 Hectares
Key Attraction Disused Railway Line Grazing Project Veteran Trees & Views
Terrain Flat railway path / Steep woods Hilly and uneven Steep, rough, and rutted
Click the site title if you would like detailed information on any of these sites
Before you go:
"The Railway and Ridge Expedition"
"The Railway and Ridge Expedition"
Objective: To observe how human infrastructure (railways and plantations) is being integrated into modern nature recovery.
The Railway Micro-Climate: Walk the flat section of the old railway in Harpford Wood. Observe the ferns and mosses in the shaded cuttings. How does this environment feel different from the commercial conifer blocks above it?
Grazing Observation: Visit Fire Beacon and look for signs of the cattle grazing project. Can you see areas where the "electronic collar" grazing has helped native heathland plants emerge through the trees?
The Veteran Hunt: In Core Hill Wood, try to identify a "Veteran Tree"—one with features like hollows, fungi, or dead wood that provide homes for wildlife.
Geological Mapping: Note the "plateau" feel of the high ground at Core Hill. This is the clay-with-flints that allows heathland and woodland to sit side-by-side.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse