Vincients Wood nature reserve in Wiltshire. Credit: Owain Shaw
Vincients Wood
Reserve closed for ash dieback works.
Location
OS Map Reference
OS map 156 Grid ref: ST898734View on What3Words
Know before you go
Dogs
See our FAQ's for more information
When to visit
Opening times
CURRENTLY CLOSED for reinstatement works following essential ash dieback felling.Best time to visit
Spring and summer. Nearby attractions include Malmesbury Abbey (9 miles), Bath Abbey and Roman Baths (10 miles), Westonbirt National Arbortum (11 miles).About the reserve
This reserve is currently CLOSED for reinstatement and enhancement works following essential ash dieback felling. Please see the Ash Dieback Update section below for further details.
Vincients Wood is a semi-natural broadleaved woodland on the western edge of Chippenham. A circular route around the wood crosses a medieval woodbank that divides the wood in two; it would have been placed there as a boundary and to keep livestock out.
Parts of the reserve are ancient woodland, which means they have been continuously wooded since at least 1600AD, although some trees have been historically felled for timber. The wood was given to us in 1990.
In spring, wood anemones and bluebells blossom. Comma, holly blue, ringlet and speckled wood butterflies live here. Listen for the great spotted woodpecker drumming on tree trunks; other birds such as the blackcap, nuthatch, goldcrest and tits prefer the sunny south edges of the wood.
Vincients Wood typically has a damp interior, where you may spot some fungi. To provide good habitat for invertebrates and fungi, we have created several ’dead hedges’ of leftover wood material, which are being left to slowly rot. We have also created a pond to attract wetland species and to help sustain wildlife during extreme weather such as droughts.
Species
Habitat
Contact us
Environmental designation
Ash dieback update
This reserve is currently closed to the public for reinstatement and enhancement works following essential ash dieback felling.
Our normal procedure for dealing with hazardous trees is to remove individual dangerous limbs or monolith the trees, and only fell the whole tree if essential. However, at Vincients Wood the extent of the disease throughout the wood and the public hazard from diseased trees meant that this approach was not possible. Whilst most of the ash trees had to be removed, we have been able to retain around 30 ash trees that were identified as having potential for bat roosts. As a result, the area these trees are in may need to remain permanently closed to the public.
As part of our planned enhancements for wildlife, we have made some habitat improvements including the creation of a glade and a pond. Some of the felled wood has been used to create deadwood habitat for invertebrates and a small amount of the remaining timber has been logged to create simple, low level ‘stepping stone’ trails for children and help define the new paths. Most of the space created by the removal of the ash has now been replanted with a diverse mix of native, broadleaf trees in the winter planting season.
Following timber extraction in the autumn, we have made significant progress over winter in preparing Vincients Wood for reopening. Recent work has included; improving drainage through ditches to reduce the risk of flooding in some neighbouring gardens; starting the reinstatement of paths and fencing; and planting around 1,700 native trees with the help of volunteers and a contractor. Unfortunately, due to the extended wet weather this winter, we have to wait a while longer until the ground dries enough to be able to finish reinstating paths and fencing. Then we will need to carry out a final Health and Safety inspection before we can reopen the reserve safely.
For now, you must not enter the wood, which remains closed for everyone’s safety.
We understand the importance of accessing the woodland to residents and we are working hard to be able to reopen Vincients Wood soon.
Visit our Ash Dieback page to learn more about our approach towards Ash Dieback, which is affecting our woodland reserves.
If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at comms@wiltshirewildlife.org.
Map of Vincients Wood
Love this hidden gem! Great for the children to roam around, explore and have many imaginative adventures.
Great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life for an hour or so. Plenty of wildlife to watch
A great place for a woody walk with kids or the dog. You can enter at any of the entrances and complete a loop taking about 20 mins or go down any of the smaller paths if you fancy an explore. Seems to always be muddy unless in summer so wear wellies!
Volunteer, Aline Denton, cuts brambles and blackthorn as part of the farm's conservation management - Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION
