A guide to woodland distribution in Sidmouth. Discover why sites like Core Hill and Riverside Wood are unique, and how plant dominance helps identify ancient habitats.
The Sidmouth Nature Project applies the principles of the Phase 1 analysis system to identify and study local wooded areas. While professional surveys use rigid scientific metrics, this project uses a more observational approach to designate sites as "woodland".
Based on project data, woodland sites in Sidmouth are primarily situated on higher ground on both sides of the valley, as well as to the north of the town.
Higher Ground Sites: Most local woods follow this pattern.
Lowland Exceptions: Riverside Wood is a notable exception; its location on lower ground is reflected in its unique character. Unlike many other local sites, it lacks conifer plantation species, appearing more "natural".
Excluded Areas: Some tree-filled areas, like The Byes, are not classified as woodland due to large patches of managed "amenity grass" and a high number of non-native, introduced trees.
Not every area with trees meets the strict scientific definition of a woodland. Some sites are included in this study because they retain the character and flora of a wood, even if their physical structure has changed.
Harcombe Lane & Milltown Lane: These are technically "lanes" lined with trees rather than official woods. However, the presence of specific woodland flora along their verges suggests they may have once been footpaths through ancient, now-cleared forests.
To move beyond simple observation, the project analyses the percentage of woodland-associated plant species found at each site. A high percentage of these specific plants justifies a site’s classification as woodland.
Woodland Species Dominance Table
Site Total Plant Species Woodland Species % Dominance
Core Hill Wood 24 18 75.0%
Riverside Wood 89 65 73.0%
Combe Head Wood 88 62 70.5%
Bulverton Hill 23 16 69.5%
Peak Wood 101 70 69.3%
Bluebell Wood 24 16 66.7%
Harpford Wood 113 74 65.5%
Milltown Lane 69 45 65.2%
Harcombe Lane 116 73 62.9%
Greystone & Lydes Hill 116 70 60.3%
Page Wood 53 32 60.3%
(Note: Recording is ongoing at Bluebell Wood and Core Hill Wood; these figures may evolve.)
Learner's Note: All sites listed above exceed 60% woodland plant dominance. However, those exceeding 70% (Core Hill, Riverside, and Combe Head) are significant because this high percentage implies they have likely been established as woodland for much longer than the other sites.
Before you go:
Objective: To use the Phase 1 Habitat criteria and vegetative analysis to determine if a local site is a "True Woodland" or a "Woodland-Like" habitat.
Part 1: The Structure Survey (The 30% Rule)
Find a local area with trees and perform a "Visual Canopy Assessment."
The Height Test: Look at the tallest trees. Are they likely to reach over 5m at maturity? (If yes, you are on the right track).
The 30% Canopy Check: Look up at the sky. Does the tree canopy cover at least 30% of the area above you?
The Layer Hunt: Can you identify all four layers mentioned in the article?
Canopy (The "roof")
Understorey (The shrubs/small trees)
Herb Layer (The flowers and ferns)
Ground Layer (The moss and leaf litter)
Part 2: The Origin Investigation
Examine the trees to decide if the site is Semi-Natural or a Plantation.
Look at the layout: Are the trees in straight lines? If yes, it’s likely a plantation.
Look at the species: Are most of the trees the same species (monoculture)?
The "30% Rule": If you see planted trees, do they make up more than 30% of the canopy? If they are less than 30%, you can classify it as "Semi-Natural."
Part 3: The Indicator Search (Vegetative Analysis)
Choose a 10m x 10m square area. Count the number of different plant species you see on the ground.
Total Species: How many different types of plants can you find?
Woodland Indicators: Use a local guidebook to identify which ones are "woodland specialists" (e.g., Bluebells, Wood Anemone, or Wild Garlic).
The Dominance Calculation: * (Number of Woodland Species ÷ Total Number of Species) x 100 = % Dominance
The Verdict: Based on your findings, does your site reach the 60% threshold found in the Sidmouth Nature Project survey?