Harpford Wood
Harpford Wood is located near Sidmouth in East Devon on the north side of the town and is described as a large area of woodland. It is owned by Clinton Devon Estates. The Woodland Trust lists it as a "Clinton Devon Estates Wood". Clinton Devon Estates manages approximately 1,900 hectares of woodlands across East and North Devon, aiming to balance commercial forestry, biodiversity, recreational, and landscape benefits. They are also involved in the "Heaths to Sea" Landscape Recovery initiative which focuses on nature recovery in East Devon.
Harpford Wood encompasses approximately 71.84 hectares (177.52 acres) and so constitutes a large area of woodland with a significant content of conifer plantation. There are also a good number of broadleaf trees present, particularly along the old railway line. The Woodland Trust notes the presence of "Huge trees".
n the Sidmouth Nature project survey, Harpford Wood recorded a total of 113 plant species, with 74 species classified as woodland species. This gives it a dominance of woodland species of 65.5%. This dominance percentage is below the 70% threshold, which might suggest it has not been established as woodland for as long as some other sites. Yellow pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum) has been recorded in Harpford Wood, but the colony is very small (no greater than a couple of square metres), making the classification as W7 (Alder/Ash - Yellow Pimpernel) inappropriate.
A significant and positive feature of Harpford Wood is that it is transected by the path of the redundant Sidmouth branch railway line. This railway line, which connected Sidmouth to Feniton, operated from 1874 until its closure in 1967. Remnants of this history, such as a skew bridge, are still visible. The disused railway corridor has been described as a "saving grace" for the wood, providing a totally different environment from other areas.
Nature has had plenty of opportunity to reclaim the old railway line area since its closure. This corridor provides a valuable habitat with sun-dappled glades featuring a diverse display of floral species and shaded cuttings where ferns, mosses, and liverworts abound. Ferns are particularly wonderful there, especially when unfurling in spring.
The woodland has steep paths in places which can make walking difficult. However, the former railway corridor provides a flat, easy walk. This route has been repurposed as a recreational path and forms part of the National Cycle Network Route 248. It offers a serene environment for walkers and cyclists and is integrated into local walking routes, such as the Harpford Woods Circular Walk. Clinton Devon Estates aims to provide public access and has installed "Creative Nature Boxes" to encourage visitor engagement. The Woodland Trust describes it as "Easy to walk through," likely referring to the railway line path.
As part of Clinton Devon Estates' holdings, management emphasizes sustainable forestry and ecological considerations. While specific management plans for Harpford Wood are not detailed, the estate's involvement in projects like "Heaths to Sea" indicates a commitment to nature recovery. The presence of a conifer plantation reflects the historical trend of converting woodlands for timber reserves, a process that often occurred in the 20th century. However, modern trends favour restoring native woodland and promoting biodiversity.