What is the aim of the Hope Wood project?
Hope Wood was created to increase local biodiversity, mitigate the effects of climate change, and support community wellbeing and connection to nature. The wood will provide screening from the road and expand Dartmoor National Park’s woodland cover. It is also part of the Woodland Trust’s Rainforest Recovery Initiative, aiming to protect, create and restore temperate rainforest in Devon and Cornwall.
Temperate rainforests are globally important as habitats for keyspecies of lichens, mosses, and fungi. About 90% of temperate rainforest cover has been lost worldwide, surviving mainly in small pockets along Atlantic coastlines, including parts of Norway, Spain, France, and the UK.
This site is also part of the Woodland Trust’s Temperate Rainforest creation trials. These aim to understand how best to establish and extend rainforest habitats. It will be one of eight sites, with data collected to help future conservation efforts.
What was Hope Wood before?
The whole site covers about 65 hectares of fields, pasture, and a wooded stream, stretching from the edge of the A38 into the countryside. Looking north from here, you can see Brent Hill and to the west, Ugborough Beacon.
The site was once crossed by the Kingsbridge Branch Line, or Primrose Line, which opened in 1893. This 12-mile railway connected Kingsbridge and South Brent, following the River Avon. The line earned its nickname for its scenic views and hedgerows full of primroses each spring. The rise of road travel and increased car use led to the railway’s closure in 1963. The former train track is recognised for its historic significance and has been left unplanted.
Historically, this site has been used for livestock farming, leading to high levels of compaction due the prolonged use of heavy machinery. Spoilage from the A38 also makes up some of the land.
What developments are being made?
Efforts have been made to bring biodiversity and native flowers to the meadows at the site.
Yellow Rattle seed is a native flowering plant that helps to control grasses. To plant this, the soil was prepared by power harrowing, an agricultural process that exposes the ground, breaks up soil clumps, aerates the soil, and buries weeds. Conservation grazing is helping to diversify the meadow, using cows from the Cows in Clover herd to expose bare ground by munching and tamping down grasses.
After these methods have been used to control the spread of grasses, a mix of native wildflower seeds will be sown to bring a diversity of plant species into the meadow. Over time, this will welcome more bugs, butterflies and bees!
We are also aiming to preserve and expand a wooded stream runs at the bottom of the site. Water-loving tree species like Alder and Willow are being planted next to the existing strip of woodland.
Wet woodlands are a valuable habitat for wildlife, supporting the growth of ferns, mosses and wetland plant species. These damp conditions are also great for insects, birds and amphibians, which often find homes in rotting wood and near watercourses and ponds.
The whole site has been planted with about 25,000 native trees and shrubs. We’ve created different types of habitats, depending on the terrain and existing land use – large areas of native woodland, improved grassland and pasture land, and maintained and expanded existing wet woodland habitats.
A mix of native tree species have been planted around the site, arranged randomly to mimic a natural woodland distribution, and protected by deer fencing to keep grazing animals out. The woodland is closed for public access to limit disturbance and create a more welcoming space for wildlife.
Hope Wood’s second year of tree planting has been organised into four different zones based on the type of terrain in a specific area area, and the types of trees that will thrive there.
The broadleaved woodland will be comprised primarily of common oak and sessile oak, as well as silver birch.
Along with common oak, species such as yew and elm will make up much of the lowland deciduous woodland.
Among other shrubs, hawthorn and blackthorn will be planted in single species groups around the perimeter of both of these areas.
In the wet woodlands, we will be planting species that benefit from damp environments, such as alder and aspen, as well as grey willow and goat willow.
What’s next?
Ways to sustainably fund the ongoing costs of managing Hope Wood are being explored. Part of the site is being leased to Sustainable South Brent for a market garden, which will bring people together to grow food sustainably for the local community.
Another possibility is a carbon credit system that will help gather funds to carry on supporting the improvement and management of the land for wildlife and people.
The Southfield will become a native woodland open to the public to enjoy. This section has been planted with a range of native tree and shrub species arranged in clusters to try and mimic a natural woodland. As the whole area is protected by deer fencing, the trees have been planted without any tubes or guards. Woollen mulch mats have been used to stop the grass from encroaching the trees. This section includes pathways winding through the woodland for visitors to walk and enjoy.
The idea for Hope Wood came from members of the community, who partnered with South Hams District Council (SHDC) to make it happen. SHDC purchased the land with support from Defra, Plymouth & South Devon Community Forest, and the Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme.
Local organisations Sustainable South Brent and ParkLife South West have played a key role in bringing the community together and coordinating the planting of Hope Wood. This would not have been possible without the generous support of local volunteers, who helped plant all trees across two full seasons. Local schools, colleges, and groups have also got involved, including South Brent Primary School, The Outdoors School, and Dartmoor Youth and Junior Rangers.