New woodland near Hatherleigh in Devon
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 Quoditch, 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.
Work in progress...
At the moment, we’re in the early stages of developing our plans for Fishleigh Wood. Over the coming months, we’ll carry out detailed surveys to better understand the site, its wildlife, and its surrounding environment.
We’ll also be inviting local people to share their views and ideas to help shape our designs for the new woodland, ahead of a formal public consultation planned for summer 2026.
This new woodland is one of the many we're creating across the UK to grow the nation's forests, with support from the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund programme.
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.
