Vincients Wood
Welcome to Vincients Wood
Vincients Wood is a small area of semi-natural broadleaved woodland. The
southern part first appeared on Ordnance Survey maps in 1828, but it is
considered to be ancient woodland. The northern section is more recent and can
be described as secondary woodland. The value of Vincients Wood lies in its
closeness to Chippenham, where it provides a valued green space for local
people.
The wood is surrounded on three sides by housing developments and the
Chippenham bypass lies within a few metres of the western boundary.
The path follows a circular route that takes the visitor through the wood and
out into an area of open space and then back into the wood again, twice
crossing a medieval woodbank. The most dominant trees within the woodland
canopy are ash, maple and oak. Other trees here include crab apple, aspen,
English elm and sallow, and there are a few long-established non-native species
such as horse chestnut and larch.
The larger trees
were felled during the second world war for timber so those present are mostly
even aged. Much of the ash and maple has regrown within the last 30 to 50 years
for coppice stools. The understorey and woodland flowers are quite diverse,
with a variety of shrubs like hazel, spindle, hawthorn, guelder rose, wayfaring
tree, blackthorn, dogwood and privet. In March the wood is full of white wood
anemones, followed by the bluebells which turn the woodland floor into a carpet
of blue in late spring. Then come the early purple orchids and goldilocks
buttercups. There is also a variety of woodland birds, like the greater spotted
woodpecker, which can be heard drumming on tree trunks to attract its mate and
defend its territory. Other birds particularly like the sunny south edges of
the wood, including blackcap, nuthatch, goldcrest and several species of tits.
Butterflies like the speckled wood may also be seen along the edges of the
woodland rides in summer.
In the damp, dark woodland
interior, particularly during autumn, many species of fungus can be found
growing on rotting logs and leaves. Where the soil has been disturbed shiny,
lilac coloured blewits may grow, while on rotting logs great clusters of
trooping crumble cap appear overnight. No coppicing is thought to have taken
place since the 1940s, and the Trust is currently reinstating a small scale
coppice programme to create more sunny areas within the wood, thereby enhancing
the wildlife value and demonstrating traditional management practices. The
remainder of the wood is being retained as low intervention, high forest, to
promote the development of large old trees. The boundary hedges are maintained
by traditional hedge laying to create a dense boundary for the wood and to
maximise their potential as wildlife habitat.
Other information
Location: The wood is on the west side of Chippenham, and can be
approached from Hungerdown Lane (A350). At the roundabout turn into Derriads
Lane. Take the third right into Turpin Way then right again into Brittain
Close. Parking is limited. The path enters the wood at Grid Ref SU 899 733.
Best times to visit: Spring for woodland flowers. All year for woodland
birds. During autumn for fungi.
Habitats: Semi-natural broadleaved woodland.
Specialities of the reserve: Spring woodland ground flora and common
woodland birds.
Shelter on the reserve: None
Nearest public telephone: Chippenham
Nearest public toilets: Chippenham
Nearest hospital casualty department: Chippenham Hospital
Vincients Wood was given to the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust in 1990 and is now
managed by the Trust with practical work carried out by Vincients Wood
Volunteers.