Growing the nation's forests
Fishleigh Wood will cover around 135 hectares and be planted with a mix of carefully selected tree species. Over time, as the trees establish, the new woodland will become a valuable habitat for wildlife and provide a future source of sustainable timber. It will also become an important carbon store, helping to mitigate against the effects of climate change.
This isn't the only new woodland we're creating in this part of Devon. We’re also developing Okement Wood, near Okehampton, just 8 miles away, and Dury Wood, 10 miles away. All three sites are also a short drive away from the popular Abbeyford Woods. Together, these sites will help create a stronger network of woodland cover across the landscape.
We want to hear from you!
A public consultation for Fishleigh Wood is open from Monday 6 July until midnight on Sunday 2 August. We're inviting local communities to view our draft designs and share their thoughts with us. This will help us shape the final decisions for the new woodland
Our draft designs include an artist's impression of what the site might look like in 25 years, along with our responses to questions about public access, traffic, and the tree species we're planning to plant.
Wildlife at Fishleigh Wood
Fishleigh Wood is being carefully designed to support a wide range of wildlife. We'll be planting a mix of different tree and shrub species to create different habitats that could support hazel dormice, otters, a wide variety of common amphibians and insects, and woodland birds such as the lesser spotted woodpecker. The woodland will also provide important roosting opportunities for bats, including the barbastelle, which is one of the rarest species of bat in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
We'll carefully plan in detail the trees that will be planted in the new woodland. Using a mix of tree and shrub species will help make the wood resilient to climate change and tree diseases, whilst also supporting a wide range of wildlife.
Some areas will be planted with a mix of trees, including broadleaved trees and conifers. This will complement the local landscape, provide seasonal colour and increase resilience.
We're in the early stages of creating our design for the new woodland. Public feedback and surveys will inform our detailed plans for the new woodland. Our aim is to create the new woodland over the next couple of years with initial planting beginning in 2027.
We will post key updates on this webpage as the project progresses.
