Location of existing local community woods
Directions to locate the existing local comunity woods
Centenary Wood, Charlbury.
SP 363196. 4.5 hectares (c. 11 acres) of woodland planted to celebrate the centenary of Oxfordshire County Council on redundant school playing fields belonging to the Council on the north-east outskirts of Charlbury. The woodland was designed with wide grassy rides to complement an adjoining BBOWT grassland nature reserve.
Dean Common, Chadlington.
SP 340212 (on the Oxfordshire Way). About 4.5 hectares (11 acres), created to launch the Wychwood Project in 1997 with the help of Oxfordshire County Council. Restored land associated with a landfill site, created with the help of Greenways and their landscape architect working with the local community to provide a variety of habitats. Nearby are Dean Grove, ancient woodland, and recent woodland planting by Waywood Furniture.
Diggers Wood, Shipton.
SP 271172. About 2.5 hectares (6.25 acres). Previously farm land, bought from a private seller by the Woodland Trust in 1999 and planted in 2000. Considerable involvement of the local community in finding, designing and planting the site, which links existing and newly planted woodland. 2400 trees were planted, with a mix of species typical of Wychwood.
Eynsham Wood, Eynsham.
SP 424100. About 5.5 hectares (13.5 acres) just north of the A40. Former arable land, bought on the open market by the Woodland Trust with the help of the local community in 2000. Mostly oak, ash and field maple with some wild cherry and shrubs along the rides.
William Fowler Memorial Wood, Chipping Norton.
SP 317263, on the south-east of the town. About 2.75 hectares (7 acres), planted on unused and exposed allotments managed by the town council on land belonging to the William Fowler Memorial Trust. Planted in 2001 by volunteers and contractors, with a 99% survival rate. Some thinning is planned in about 2011. This is an elevated site in the landscape, and the woodland will merge with other, private, planting near the Rugby Club and east towards Old Chalford.
Leafield Community Wood.
SP 313155, on the north side of the village. In 1997 a local group began planting trees to celebrate the Millennium, and in 1999, with advice from the Project, they formed Leafield Woodlands Ltd, a charity, and bought this nearly 1.5 acres site from Oxfordshire County Council with the help of grant from TOE. The woodland, planted in 2000, has been designed and managed to create variety in a modest area, and many activities for the local community, especially children, take place there.
See the following link for more information on the Leafield Community Wood http://www.leafieldwoodlands.co.uk/
North Leigh Common.
SP 401136, north of the Witney – Woodstock A4095. About 17 hectares (41.5 acres) of Common land under the control of West Oxfordshire District Council, with management assistance from various groups. The Common was one of several areas of heath within the Forest boundaries, which in the 19th century was used for extracting sand and clay. Trees naturally regenerated in the early 20th century. Recently some areas have been cleared of trees and bracken, to encourage plants typical of acid grassland. The site has wetland, scrub and woodland, and a varied bird population.
Breach Wood, Hailey.
SP 356128, north-east of the village. About 2.5 hectares (6.5 acres). Formerly arable land, the site was bought from a sympathetic private seller in 2002 by the local community with the help of a grant from TOE. The wood is owned and run by Hailey Community Woodland Ltd, a charitable company. The site of the wood is on the fringes of Wychwood’s former woodlands, mid-way between Singe Wood and Jacob’s Copse. The wood has become a focus for village involvement.
Little Garden Wood, Ramdsen.
SP 353155. An existing Woodland Trust site, now leased to a local community group, which has begun to clear and manage this somewhat neglected small wood.
