Our Ancient Woodland

We are fortunate that we own a historic ancient broadleaf woodland that once formed part of Queen Victoria's Osborne Estate. The woodland contains part of the carriage way that once linked Osborne House with Whippingham Train Station, this was used for the Queens ministers of state when attending the Queen. The carriage was lined with large majestic oaks trees, many of which still survive to this day.

We believe that truly sustainable woodland should, for the greater part, self-regenerate. Our timber use is confined to good woodland management and not wholesale felling. 

Products that contain wood sourced from our own woodland can be found in our Woodland Collection. 

 

 

Phoenix Trees.

When our veteran trees succumb to the power of storm winds and become fallen trees, we leave them. We hope, very often successfully, that epicormic growth will occur and the tree will deliver new growth from the fallen trunk, as did this sweet chestnut in the picture. These Phoenix trees sometimes throw up two or three standards that will grow up and infill the space in the canopy.

 

Hazel Catkins.

The hazel catkins remind us that despite it being a cold, wet and dreary February, spring is making a comeback all around us.

 

Native Bluebells, a sure indicator of an ancient woodland habitat.

Where the understory in the woodland is not dense and light penetrates to the woodland floor the emergence of native bluebells covers the ground in an enchanting carpet of blue in the spring.

 

Fallen wood and Brash.

The natural loss of lower limbs and tree management cuttings are left on the forest floor. Smaller trimmings and coppicing waste are formed into brash banks and mats. These form part of the essential habitat for the thousands of small mammals, invertebrates, insects, microorganisms and fungi that are essential for the health of the woodland and its soil. The biodiversity of an ancient forest floor is extensive and essential to protect and nurture.

 

Red Squirrels.

The woodland is home to Red Squirrels. As these beautiful creatures are by nature solitary and fiercely territorial they are usually seen individually. We have caught on camera a dray of mother and kit and the courting shenanigans of adults. From January to April, we stock up our various squirrel feeders to aid their reserves over the breading season. We have yet to witness a scurry of the resident groups, this is usually very short lived and ends in fight.