A WALK THROUGH THE OLD PLANTATION

This is a bit longer than usual but is an illustrated guide through The Old Plantation, the section of Filnore Woods that you get to by turning left inside the main entrance and walking past the toolshed.

Crossing over the stream, which dries up in summer, you enter the wood that we call Cuckoo Pen, an old name for the last area to be left wooded in an area of cleared land.

   

At post 11 there is a choice of paths.    To the right is a path through a twiggy corridor, which we shall come down on our return, and sharp right another path ascends through the valley woodland. 

BUT we carry straight on . . . . 

  

. . . . past a turning to the right and past post 12.

On the left is a stile leading into a small paddock now full of hazel and blackthorn.

At the top of Vilner Lane we turn right as signed and follow the path by post 13 . . . .

  

. . . . along a corridor lined with blackthorn, ferns and rosebay willowherb.

  

At post 14 we pass under the beech trees that were heeled in here years ago when this was a Northavon Council tree nursery.  Though still young, two of them have unfortunately died already.

The path curves round to the right and leads into the old plantation - more leftover Northavon trees

    

Duck under the hornbeam and rowan branches and turn left at post 15.

    

A corridor through here was cleared in the early days of Filnore Woods by Allan Burberry and some young helpers.

   

   

When you get to the leaning Silver Maple look for the arrow at post 16 just beyond it and turn right between two London Planes with their distinctive bark.

      

This will lead you through the jungly trees, mostly willow, and through an overgrown hedgerow into the field, at post 17.  

This is a good spot for bluebells in spring.

We are working to keep this field grassy and full of wild flowers but the brambles, thistles and hogweed are trying to take over.

Turning right follow the hedge line and pass under the branches of the first of two ancient beech trees.

    

On the opposite side of the path is the entrance to the site of an old cowshed, last cleared in March but now a bit overgrown again.   Nature's resilience !

   

Carry on down past the first large beech with number 18 on it.  Opposite the second large beech is post 19.  

Bear left here down the twiggy corridor and come out at post 11

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 Turn left to post 20 and you are back at the beginning.

 

 Hope you enjoyed this walk from your armchair.  Possibly you will be able to manage it on foot before too long.