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AN INTRODUCTION TO
WILDERNESS WOOD
Wilderness Wood is a 23 hectare (61 acre) wood at Hadlow Down in East
Sussex (5 miles NE of Uckfield and 12 miles S of Tunbridge Wells). It
has been owned and managed by Chris and Anne Yarrow since 1980. We run
it as a commercial enterprise, with income from on-site sales of wood,
wood products and Christmas trees, and from visitors. The wood is
managed with the aims of maintaining a financially sound business;
making the best use of all woodland produce, and adding value by making
it into items such as garden furniture; maintaining and enhancing the
resource base; giving people the opportunity to enjoy and learn about
the wood; and providing worthwhile rural employment.
Nearly two thirds of
the wood are coppices mainly of sweet chestnut, which are cut in the
traditional way on a 12-25 year cycle; the harvested poles are used for
fencing materials, garden poles and garden products such as rose arches.
There are also areas of larger chestnut trees, which are being grown for
timber. The remaining areas are plantations of pine, beech and fir,
including much post-1987 storm replanting. These trees will eventually
be sold for sawmilling. A 0.6 hectare (1.5 acre) Christmas tree
plantation is very popular for “cut/dig-your-own” trees.
The range of products from the wood is very wide, from holly, peasticks
and firewood to garden items made in our workshop from Wilderness Wood
sweet chestnut and local oak, such as garden seats and tables, bird
tables and boxes, and rose arches. We buy in certain local wood products
for re-sale, including mulch, hazel hurdles, Sussex trugs, and wood
carvings.
We aim to maintain
and increase the conservation value of the wood, for instance by
widening the rides, putting up nest boxes, maintaining a pond and a
small area of heath, and leaving branches and twigs after coppicing. We
take environmental care very seriously, for instance by reducing ,
re-using and recycling waste, and by careful use of chemicals.
Wilderness Wood is an ancient wood which has certainly been woodland for
over 200 years, and may never have been cleared. In the wood there are
two “bloomeries” (primitive iron-smelting sites, both dated as Roman.
The wood produced charcoal for the local iron industry until the
eighteenth century.
Over 21,000 paying
visitors come to the wood each year, as well as local villagers who use
the wood free. We have built a traditional timber barn which houses an
exhibition about Wilderness Wood and growing and using wood; and where
visitors can buy souvenirs, light lunches, teas and locally made cakes
and ice cream. There is a ¾ mile self-guided woodland trail; a ¼ mile
“easy access” trail; spotter sheets for children; tea garden; picnic
places and adventure play area; and BBQs for hire. A new development is
a wooden shelter in the depths of the wood, where visitors can enjoy a
cook-out or an exciting overnight camp.
An evolving special events programme includes an Easter bunny hunt,
“working horses” day, spring bluebell walk, autumn fungus walks and
courses, a chestnut celebration weekend, guided walks ranging from the
dawn chorus to moths by moonlight, and children’s activities including
“castaway days”, bug hunts, hands-on art, teddy bears’ picnics and fairy
gardens.
Our visitors include
about 3,500 school children each year, of all ages from reception
classes to sixth formers. We provide teachers’ packs including activity
sheets for KS1, KS2, and Secondary level, and most classes have a guided
walk and often a demonstration of making chestnut poles into fenceposts
and roofing shingles – the children have a go at using hand tools.
Many other organised groups visit the wood, from playgroups and Brownies
to pensioners’ clubs; many have a guided walk or children’s activity.
The wood is very popular for birthday parties, and probably our single
most successful activity is “Castaway” parties. In September and October
several hundred people come on fungus walks and courses, to learn about
(particularly eating) our abundant woodland fungi.
Wilderness Wood was
in 2004 awarded the Seymour Challenge Cup for the best-managed
medium-sized woodland in south-east England; has been recognised as a
Centre of Excellence by the Forestry Authority, for access for people
and particularly for education; has been awarded the Duke of Cornwall’s
Award for forestry and conservation; a “Tourfor” award for environmental
management; and a Wealden District Council “green award” for waste
management.
The wood provides
employment for 5 people full-time, and a number of part-time casual
staff.
Wilderness Wood is
open every day of the year from 10a.m. till 5.30 p.m./dusk. Organised
groups can also visit in the evenings, when they may hire the barn.
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