Sidmouth Woodlands

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".

Where is Sidmouth’s Woodland Located?

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.

Identifying "Strict" vs. "Resemblance" Woodland

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.

Vegetative Analysis: Using Plants to Confirm Woodland Status

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.