Welcome to Southwood
Southwood is a small wood in the Taw Valley, North Devon whose owners aim to improve its bio-diversity.
Ongoing Projects
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Plant intermediate layers of flowers, shrubs & small trees.
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Thin trees in the East of the wood and open up new glades to allow light to reach the woodland floor.
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Renovate the pond and diversify the surrounding vegetation.
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Produce a stock of rhododendron charcoal ready for sale in 2021.
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Treat rhododendron regrowth. Clear remaining brash.
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Maintain and develop paths through the wood.
Future Plans
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Build a large shed for Forestry Purposes, supplied with water and electricity.
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Erect a composting toilet.
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Develop the productivity of the land at Kingford Mill
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Buy a compact tractor.
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Acquire a power-take-off (pto) logsplitter and circular saw.
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Erect log benches and information boards.
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Improve marketing of our charcoal.
News
COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP
August 2020: Final instalment of SB6 grant for clearing the rhododendron.
October 2020: Small workshed built by Pete in the wood to store charcoal, tools, equipment, and camping stove for hot drinks!
November 2020: Approval given for a grant for Wildlife boxes and a five year Woodland Development grant.
News
News 3
THE POND
From the summer 2020, two volunteers, Greg and Sobie have cleared and repaired the paths round the pond and are starting to selectively remove the vegetation that is choking the wildlife friendly plants we want to encourage.
News
CHARCOAL - A FIRST TO BE PROUD OF!
September 2020: We took delivery of a Hookway Charcoal Retort and received training from James, its inventor. The result was the first six bags of rhododendron charcoal to be produced in England - so far as we know. Through the winter we'll build up a stock, ready to sell from Spring 2021. High Bickington's Community Shop has agreed to be our very first outlet.
October 2020: A group from Quarry Wood - the community wood in High Bickington - came to see the retort at work. Despite heavy rain, it was a good morning, capped by Michael's splendid hot dogs!