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Didcot's oaks and other notable trees

Didcot's oaks
 and other notable trees

 
There is a wood near me that I walk or run through most days. Even on a wet winter's day I get pleasure from being among the trees  – Michael Mosley, former medical doctor, health writer and BBC presenter

WOODS

A list of public and private woods in Didcot

  EASTON'S PLANTATION  On the other side of the railway bridge at the north end of Foxhall Road, past the entrance to the station car park and over another older bridge over the railway is the inaccessible Easton's Plantation, at the junction of Basil Hill Road and Oxfordshire bridleway 189/26. This wood used to extend much further to the west before it lost to commercial development all but a row of mature trees along Basil Hill Road westwards. 

  FLEET MEADOW FOOTPATH  To walk east on Marsh Lane past Marsh cottages south of the railway towards South Moreton (Oxfordshire footpath 189/12) is to increasingly leave suburbia behind and to step back into a seemingly timeless distant landscape of mature oak trees, woods and fields. In early 2021 a planning application is currently under consideration which could see 325 homes built to the east of Fleet Meadow. However this area borders the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which should hopefully limit Didcot's spread in this direction. 

  FULSCOT COPSE  This private broadleaved woodland consists mainly of poplar, oak, chestnut and elm. It is located on the eastern extremity of Didcot on either side of the road from the A4130 to South Moreton. The western portion is east of Oakend Lea. There is no public access. 

  FURLONG WOOD  To the north of the Furlongs estate, east of the B4016 Abingdon Road lies Furlong Wood. The western part of the wood is at risk from the 'Marsh' / Ladygrove East planning application, as this includes the final extension of the Northern Perimeter Road (A4130) which will provide the main access to the new site as well as relieving traffic congestion around Tesco and the roundabout to the west by Marsh Bridge. 

  GWP NORTH WOOD  As far as anyone knows, this hidden gem of a wood has no name, and it appears little known. From the east-west grassy strip that runs along its southern border, there are glimpses of a tall oak rising above the rest of the canopy. The entrances to the wood are not obvious, but the most accessible one is in the centre of this grassy path (Oxfordshire 189/34). On entering the wood, one soon meets a very large tree which has its own TPO as well as the protection of the TPO covering the whole wood. Up close, it's clear that the tree has lost a large branch, but there is only one other oak tree in Didcot with a larger girth (in Edmonds Park) making this Didcot's second largest oak. Its girth is 432 cm, which using the Woodland Trust ready reckoner, makes it 232 years old in 2020, and establishes the date it first started growing as approximately 1788. Following the track around to the right leads past another dozen large oaks. Beware steep banks which make accessing many of the trees hazardous. The path to the left goes through a younger section of the wood, with a wide variety of species and a lot more light coming through the canopy – this exits further west into GWP. 

  LADYGROVE WOOD – THE BOWER  On some old maps of the area, long before the Ladygrove Park estate was built, there is a triangular wood named "The Bower". The wood has matured since then, and although there are few obvious paths, there are fine specimens of many tree species. Perhaps the most notable tree is at the south end, readily seen after walking down the footpath almost opposite the pillar box in Trent Road. Using the Woodland Trust's ready reckoner, this tree started growing around 1850 – more than 170 years old. 

  MILLENIUM WOOD  Located in the 'Hagbourne Triangle to the south of Didcot, the Millenium Wood can be accessed from Green Close on Oxfordshire footpath 189/13 or the footpath along the former Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway cycle path (also known as the Linear Park) then 197/4 south, or via east-west footpath 197/5 which can be accessed from Mowbray Road. This relatively young wood has been growing for over 20 years now, and has started to fill out, with a canopy forming over many of the footpaths. Paths can be muddy after rain and in winter. It is a mixed deciduous wood, including native species of shrub. Near the centre is a stone circle, and to the south is an ephemeral pond whose level depends on the extent of recent rainfall. (This is the only wood that doesn't appear on other pages of this website.) 

  WILLOWBROOK WOOD  In the midst of current house construction works, southwest of Pearith Farm, is a medium-sized wood with no known name. The wood, protected by a TPO, contains mixed species such as ash, oak and willow. It is likely that construction will preclude access for some time. 

MAP

 Click / tap pins or zoom in to see wood identity
Click icon at top left of map header to list and select woods
To switch to satellite view, with the slider open, scroll down and click the square satellite icon.
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  EASTON'S PLANTATION 

 A private wood in Basil Hill Road

Easton's Plantation

TPO: 94S21W1

Inaccessible

Easton's Plantation

TPO: 94S21W1

Junction of Basil Hill Road

and bridleway 189/26

Easton's Plantation

TPO: 94S21W1

Basil Hill Road

Inaccessible

 

  FLEET MEADOW 

 Viewable along the footpath to South Moreton

S Moreton path small wood

TPO: no

Fenced

S Moreton path small wood

TPO: no

Fenced

South Moreton footpath

TPO: 19S29T1-T5

T1 on path, others

on private farm land

South Moreton footpath

TPO: 19S29T1-T5

T1 on path, others

on private farm land

South Moreton footpath

TPO: 19S29T1-T5

T1 on path, others

on private farm land

South Moreton footpath

TPO: 19S29T1-T5

T1 on path, others

on private farm land

South Moreton footpath

TPO: 19S29T1-T5

T1 on path, others

on private farm land

South Moreton footpath

TPO: 19S29T1-T5

T1 on path, others

on private farm land

South Moreton footpath

TPO: 19S29T1 (nearest)

Nearest 372 cm in 2020

185 years = 1935

S Moreton path footpath

TPO: 19S29T1

Girth 372 cm in 2020

185 years = 1935

South Moreton footpath

TPO: 19S29T1-T5

T1 on path, others

on private farm land

South Moreton footpath

TPO: 19S29T1-T5

T1 on path, others

on private farm land

South Moreton footpath

TPO: 19S29T1-T5

T1 on path, others

on private farm land

Distant E/W wood in AONB

TPO: no but AONB protection

Inaccessible

on private farm land

Far N/S wood outside AONB

TPO: 19S29W1

Inaccessible

on private farm land

 

  FULSCOT COPSE 

 A private wood to the east of Oakend Lea

Fulscot copse TPO: 03S08

Combined modern / 1888-1913

OS 6 inch to 1 mile

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Fulscot copse west

TPO: 03S08

Seen from Oakend Lea by

the A4130 to Wallingford

 

  FURLONG WOOD 

 A small wood north of the Furlongs estate

Furlong Wood

TPO: no

Access via Middle Furlong

Furlong Wood

TPO: no

Access via Middle Furlong

Furlong Wood

TPO: no

Access via Middle Furlong

 

  GREAT WESTERN PARK NORTH WOOD 

 An undiscovered gem on the northern fringe of GWP

GWP north wood

TPO: 06S23W1

Access centre of S border

Inaccessible

GWP north wood

TPO: 06S23W1

Overhead satellite view

of eastern part

GWP north wood

TPO: 06S23W1

Sketch of eastern part.

Beware slope and hazards

GWP north wood (a)

TPO: 06S23W1

Access via centre of

south border

GWP north wood (b)

TPO: 06S23W1

Entrance is midway

along grassy strip

GWP north wood (c), tree T1

TPO: 06S23W1, T1

Girth 432 cm in 2020

232 years = 1788

GWP north wood (d), tree T1

TPO: 06S23W1, T1

Girth 432 cm in 2020

232 years = 1788

GWP north wood (e), tree T1

TPO: 06S23W1, T1

Girth 432 cm in 2020

232 years = 1788

GWP north wood (f), tree T1

TPO: 06S23W1, T1

Girth 432 cm in 2020

232 years = 1788

GWP north wood (g), tree T1

TPO: 06S23W1, T1

Girth 432 cm in 2020

232 years = 1788

GWP north wood tree A

TPO: 06S23W1

Largest branch 245 cm 2020

100 years = 1920

GWP north wood tree A

TPO: 06S23W1

Multi-trunk (see previous)

100 years = 1920

GWP north wood tree B

TPO: 06S23W1

Girth 206 cm in 2020

85 years = 1935

GWP north wood tree C

TPO: 06S23W1

Girth 290 cm in 2020

128 years = 1892

GWP north wood tree D

TPO: 06S23W1

Three-trunk

Inaccessible

GWP north wood tree D

TPO: 06S23W1

Three-trunk

Inaccessible

GWP north wood tree E

TPO: 06S23W1

Girth 203 cm in 2020

80 years = 1940

GWP north wood tree F

TPO: 06S23W1

Girth 208 cm in 2020

85 years = 1935

GWP north wood tree G

TPO: 06S23W1

Girth 325 cm in 2020

150 years = 1870

GWP north wood tree Ⅰ

TPO: 06S23W1

Girth 368 cm (ivy) 2020

180 years = 1840

GWP north wood tree J

TPO: 06S23W1

Girth 286 cm in 2020

125 years = 1895

 

  LADYGROVE WOOD 

 Accessible from footpath N of Trent Road

Map of The Bower

in Ladygrove Park east

 

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Ladygrove Wood - The Bower

TPO: 09S118W1 revoked

Accessible N of Trent Road

 

Large oak south end (a)

TPO: 09S118T23 revoked

Girth 357 cm in 2020

170 years = 1850

Large oak south end (b)

TPO: 09S118T23 revoked

Girth 357 cm in 2020

170 years = 1850

Large oak south end (c)

TPO: 09S118T23 revoked

Girth 357 cm in 2020

170 years = 1850

Large oak south end (d)

TPO: 09S118T23 revoked

Girth 357 cm in 2020

170 years = 1850

Medium-sized oak north end

TPO: 09S118T21 revoked

Girth 253 cm in 2020

107 years = 1913

Ladygrove wood

TPO: 09S118W1 revoked

Ladygrove wood

TPO: 09S118W1 revoked

Ladygrove wood

TPO: 09S118W1 revoked

Ladygrove wood

TPO: 09S118W1 revoked

Alternative northern access

from Synderford Close

Ladygrove wood

TPO: 09S118W1 revoked

Ladygrove wood

TPO: 09S118W1 revoked

 

  MILLENIUM WOOD 

 Access from Mowbray Road or Green Close

Millennium Wood map

Combined modern/1888-1913

OS 6 inch to 1 mile

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Millennium Wood sign

TPO: no

Millennium Wood sign

TPO: no

Millennium Wood

TPO: no

Millennium Wood

TPO: no

Stone circle

Millennium Wood

TPO: no

Millennium Wood

TPO: no

Ephemeral pond in winter

Millennium Wood

TPO: no

Millennium Wood

TPO: no

Millennium Wood

TPO: no

Millennium Wood

TPO: no

 

  WILLOWBROOK WOOD 

 A currently inaccessible wood on the new Willowbrook estate

Map of Willowbrook before.

Combined modern/1888-1913

OS 6 inch to 1 mile

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Satellite view of Willowbrook

wood in 2020 before

construction

Willowbrook wood

TPO: 17S16W1

Inaccessible

Willowbrook wood

TPO: 17S16W1

Inaccessible

Willowbrook wood

TPO: 17S16W1

Inaccessible

Willowbrook wood

TPO: 17S16W1

Inaccessible

Willowbrook wood

TPO: 17S16W1

Inaccessible

Willowbrook wood

TPO: 17S16W1

Inaccessible

Willowbrook wood

TPO: 17S16W1

Inaccessible