Combe Head Wood

Executive Summary

Combe Head Wood, situated in the Sid Valley of East Devon, represents a critical site for regional conservation efforts, specifically within the "Heaths to Sea" project. Defined as a "woodland of two halves," the site contains a mix of ancient semi-natural woodland dating back to at least 1822 and mid-20th-century conifer plantations. Currently managed by the National Trust as a Restored Ancient Woodland Site (RAWS), the wood is a "Core Area" for biodiversity, supporting rare species such as the hazel dormouse and fritillary butterflies. However, the ecosystem faces significant existential threats from Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) and airborne nitrogen pollution. Current management strategies prioritise selective thinning, hazel coppicing, and habitat diversification to build resilience against these environmental pressures.

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Historical Context: A Bifurcated Landscape

The ecological character of Combe Head Wood is dictated by its dual history, which creates a distinct contrast in biodiversity levels across the site.

Feature Ancient Woodland Plantation Era (1960s)

Semi-natural Oak and Ash Pine, Spruce, Western Red Cedar, Beech

Ecological Status High; 70.5% are woodland specialists Low; described as "devoid of almost everything"

Key Flora Native flowers, bluebells, violets Primarily ferns and some fungi

History Recorded cover since at least 1822 Established for modern plantation forestry

The primary conservation challenge is the restoration of the "Plantation Era" sections. The non-native conifers introduced in the 1960s cast dense shade and create acidic soil conditions through needle drop, which suppresses the sensitive native flora characteristic of ancient woodlands.

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Conservation Framework and Management Strategy

The wood is currently integrated into the "Heaths to Sea" project and is managed as a "Core Area" to facilitate nature recovery. The management philosophy emphasises a "light touch" with specific, targeted interventions.

Key Management Interventions

• Restored Ancient Woodland Site (RAWS) Protocol: A gradual process of removing non-native conifers to allow the original native ecosystem to recover.

• Selective Thinning: The National Trust avoids clear-felling. Instead, they use selective thinning to increase light penetration to the forest floor, encouraging the growth of bluebells and violets.

• Hazel Coppicing: Traditional rotational cutting of hazel trees creates a dense, scrubby understorey. This is essential for the hazel dormouse, providing food and safe, interconnected pathways through the canopy.

• Standing Dead Wood: The 2026 management plan prioritises leaving dead trees upright to support specialised fungi and beetles, which are often absent in younger or commercial woods.

• Glade Maintenance: Maintaining open, sunlit clearings is vital for nectar-producing flowers, which in turn support insect populations, including Fritillary butterflies.

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Biodiversity and Priority Species

The woodland serves as a sanctuary for several specialist species that require specific habitat conditions for survival.

• Hazel Dormouse: Relies on the "interconnected pathways" created by successful hazel coppicing to avoid ground predators.

• Fritillary Butterflies: Dependent on the warm, bright spaces provided by managed glades.

• Glow Worms: Identified as a priority species within the wood’s carefully managed habitats.

• Woodland Specialist Flora: A survey indicates that 70.5% of species are specialists, with bluebell season in early May being a primary indicator of the wood's ecological health.

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Environmental Threats and Resilience

Combe Head Wood is currently at a turning point due to two primary environmental stressors:

1. The Ash Dieback Crisis

The fungal disease Hymenoscyphus fraxineus is expected to kill 75% to 95% of the wood’s ash trees over the coming decades.

• Impact: This will necessitate extensive safety felling along public paths and will create large, sudden gaps in the woodland canopy.

• Mitigation: The National Trust is using this crisis as an opportunity for "diversification," planting a wider range of native species to create a robust ecosystem that is less vulnerable to future pests or climate-related shifts.

2. Nitrogen Pollution and Successional Stress

The wood suffers from chronic airborne nitrogen pollution, which acts as an unintended fertiliser.

• The Conflict: While increased light from canopy gaps (caused by Ash Dieback or thinning) usually benefits wildflowers, the high nitrogen levels allow "aggressive, generalist plants" and nutrient-hungry weeds to thrive.

• Conservation Risk: These generalists can out-compete the sensitive, specialist flowers that define the ancient woodland's heritage.

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Visitor Information and Accessibility

The wood is managed to balance ecological sensitivity with public engagement.

• Access: Entry is located on the northern side of the Salcombe Hill National Trust car park.

• Infrastructure: The upper section of the wood features stoned paths suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs, and visitors of all abilities.

• Seasonality: While the wood is open year-round, May is noted for bluebells, and the period from May to October offers peak species sightings. Autumn is characterised by a high diversity of fungi.

Combe Head Wood, a fascinating site on the eastern side of the Sid Valley near Salcombe Hill, is featured on a few specialized local nature and conservation websites that highlight its management, wildlife, and accessibility.

Because it is a key site for regional conservation projects, it is prominently featured on these specific platforms:

1. Sidmouth Nature (sidmouth-nature.uk)

This site provides the most extensive digital coverage of Combe Head Wood, featuring it both as a standalone location profile and as a core case study in their "Telling Woods from the Trees" ecological survey series.

• What to look for: Their dedicated "Wild Places" profile page for Combe Head Wood. It offers an in-depth look at its history as a "woodland of two halves"—explaining how its ancient semi-natural oak and ash roots (dating back to at least 1822) mix with a 1960s conifer plantation era.

• Data & Botanical Surveys: The site features botanical data tracking showing that Combe Head Wood boasts an impressive 70.5% woodland plant dominance, marking it as one of the most established ecological indicators on Salcombe Hill. It also details the woodland's adaptation strategies against Ash Dieback and its role in the regional Heaths to Sea project.

2. The National Trust (nationaltrust.org.uk)

Because the National Trust owns and actively manages the wider Salcombe Hill landscape, Combe Head Wood is integrated into their regional property maps and conservation updates for the East Devon Coast & Countryside portfolio.

• What to look for: Access and trail information. National Trust resources highlight the wood's unique accessibility, noting that public access is available from the northern side of the Salcombe Hill car park and features level, stoned paths specifically suited for all abilities, including wheelchairs and pushchairs. It is heavily featured as a top local recommendation for families and dog walkers, particularly during the spring bluebell season.

3. Sid Vale Association (sidvaleassociation.org.uk)

The SVA features Combe Head Wood in its historical land care reports, archives, and member magazines. While the National Trust manages the primary Salcombe Hill plot, the SVA closely tracks the wider Salcombe Regis valley slopes (where they own smaller adjacent parcels of steep woodland). Their publications document collaborative efforts to improve tree diversity and monitor rare local wildlife, such as hazel dormice, glow worms, and fritillary butterflies.

Visitor Tip from the Sites: If you use these sites to plan a walk, they recommend a gentle, one-mile circular route starting right from the National Trust parking area. Early May is highlighted across all platforms as the peak time to visit, when the woodland floor is completely transformed by native bluebells.