Peak Wood

Even near the most popular coastal towns, there are quiet corners of wildness waiting to be found. These are the places that offer a different kind of retreat—not of sand and sea, but of dappled light, rustling leaves, and the subtle hum of life carrying on just beyond the town’s edge. They are the open secrets, known to locals but often overlooked by visitors.

On the western fringe of Sidmouth, nestled on the high ground of Peak Hill, lies just such a place. Peak Wood is a delightful area of 'open' woodland, managed by the National Trust. It isn't a vast forest or a manicured park, but something wonderfully in-between.

From the moment you step onto its level paths, the woodland feels different. It has the air of a place with a history, a story held within its mix of trees, scrub, and grassy clearings. It feels less like a wild wood and more like a space that was once tended, perhaps a garden that has been gently reclaimed by nature. This unique character is what makes it one of Sidmouth’s hidden gems.

The key to Peak Wood’s charm lies in its description as an “open” woodland. This isn’t a dense, dark forest with a closed canopy, but a vibrant mosaic where sunlight spills onto the woodland floor, fostering a rich diversity of life. This structure creates four distinct, functioning layers: a broadleaf canopy for nesting birds, an under-storey of scrub providing food and shelter, a herb layer of wildflowers supporting pollinators, and a ground layer of leaf litter and fungi driving the cycle of nutrients.

This layered habitat where different species can thrive is noted in local nature surveys, which describe the wood in a way that captures its unique feel:

Peak Wood is a delightful area of 'open' woodland that appears to have once been a part of a 'garden' area.

This observation is supported by physical clues. The presence of a bank and a distinct tree-lined border to the west suggests it was once an enclosed, protected space, set apart from surrounding pastures where grazing animals roamed. This history likely links back to the grounds of the nearby Peak House, a historic building dating to the late 18th century, giving the woodland a tangible connection to the past.

The foundation of any habitat is the ground beneath it, and Peak Wood sits atop a deep and dramatic history. As part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, its geology tells a story millions of years in the making. The woodland rests on a cap of Upper Greensand, a Cretaceous formation that creates the well-drained, acidic soil shaping the entire ecosystem. But beneath this lies an even older world: impermeable red mudstones from the Triassic period, formed in a desert of flash floods 220 million years ago. This layering influences the area’s hydrology, forcing water to the surface and shaping the landscape from its ancient core.

The Sidmouth Nature project survey reveals just how successful this ecosystem is. The findings from this small woodland are remarkable:

• Total Plant Species: 101

• Woodland Specialist Species: 70

• Dominance of Woodland Species: 69.3%

To find over 100 plant species in such a compact area is a sign of a healthy environment. More importantly, the high percentage of woodland specialists is a "strong indicator of the wood's ecological health and its long-standing status as a wooded environment," proving that this is a stable, mature habitat where nature has been allowed to flourish.

Peak Wood is a living community, and its mix of habitats supports a fascinating array of flora and fauna. Here are just a few of the residents you might encounter.

Wildflowers and Ferns In the spring, the woodland floor comes alive. Look for the delicate white flowers of Greater Stitchwort, which have been recorded flowering here in April. You’ll also find carpets of Bluebells, a species whose presence often serves as an indicator of ancient woodland. These native flowers are a conservation priority, facing a threat from hybridization with the non-native Spanish bluebell. Bracken, the emblematic fern of woodlands, is also a prominent feature, its large fronds providing important structural cover for small mammals and ground-nesting birds.

Insects and Butterflies On a warm summer’s day, the provided bench seat becomes a perfect viewpoint for watching butterflies dance through the sunlit glades. The woodland is also home to other vital insects. The Marmalade Hoverfly is a notable resident, playing a dual role as both a crucial pollinator for the wildflowers and a natural pest controller, with its larvae feeding on aphids. You may also spot the Common Wasp, one of nature's intriguing architects and an often-misunderstood predator that helps control other insect populations.

Wider Wildlife Peak Wood is not an isolated island; it is part of a much larger habitat mosaic that connects the maritime grasslands of Peak Hill with the lowland heaths of Mutter’s Moor. In this wider landscape, visitors might be lucky enough to spot specialist birds like the Dartford warbler and nightjar. Buzzards are often seen circling overhead, taking advantage of the high vantage points. The sunny paths and grassland edges are also known to be basking spots for shy adders and lizards, so be sure to watch your step.

Peak Wood is a special place, an accessible, living piece of history where the "open" structure tells a story of both human influence and natural reclamation. It is a reminder of the immense value held within the smaller, mixed-habitat green spaces that lie on the edges of our communities.

Protecting these pockets of nature is not a passive wish but an active, collaborative effort. Here, the National Trust works in partnership with organizations like the RSPB on landscape-scale initiatives such as the Firebeacon Grazing Project, which aims to link heath and wood pasture to boost biodiversity. This work is part of an even grander vision, the "Heaths to Sea" project, which connects landowners in a shared mission to restore nature across East Devon. Peak Wood is a small but vital piece in this vast, interconnected puzzle of conservation in action.

What other natural treasures are hiding in plain sight, just waiting to be discovered?