LEI Country

Fineshade

Location Plans

Fineshade car park - SP978984 - view in Multimap or Streetmap format.
Wakerley Woods car park - SP960987 - view in Multimap or Streetmap format.
(used for larger events at Fineshade)

Fineshade is going through a period of considerable change. The alterations reflect much improvement work being done by the Forestry Commission under its Ancient Woodland Project. These woodlands are within the old Rockingham Forest area, named about 900 years ago by the Norman Kings who hunted there. There are miles of continuous woodlands in the area, many of which we have used, and this large block provides a haven for a healthy wildlife population including the magnificent recently reintroduced red kite. On a recent visit several types of deer, lizards, adders and numerous bird species were seen.

In medieval times this area was mostly pastureland. Westhay which is now part of the area we know as Fineshade was woodland way back but Fineshade itself was largely created by new plantings by the Forestry Commission in the early 20th century. This is slowly being removed and replaced with often self-regenerating native species. Most of the forest lies over boulder clay making it largely unsuitable for agriculture which probably accounts for its survival. Even today Forest Enterprise has abandoned attempts to grow commercial conifers due to the waterlogged soils which we are all too familiar with.

Fineshade and the nearby Wakerley Great Wood make up a sizeable chunk of near continuous woodland with a number of interesting landforms. Given the large area of woodland with fairly small gaps between individual woods a healthy wildlife population thrives from the magnificent recently reintroduced red kite down to invertebrates and more unusual insects including many glow worms. There is evidence of medieval and roman iron smelting in the wood. Roman slag heaps still abound and can be seen in many fields in the area. Fallow deer abound in the woods and muntjacs are also there in considerable numbers.

Fineshade Wood is an ancient mixed broadleaf and conifer woodland with field maple or ash with a sprinkling of oak but there are rarer species about such as the chequer tree and small-leaved lime.

The wood is therefore deemed to contain rich semi-natural native woodland, as well as areas of conifers that are gradually being restored to site-native broadleaf woodland under the 'Ancient Woodland Project'. The wood was coppiced for many centuries, and the remnant coppice banks can still be seen. The coppice was used in the past for charcoal making.

Quite apart from being the home of the expanding Red Kite Project the centre will be a learning centre for local schools and will have a café and toilets. Working with the RSPB and others there will be a wide selection of courses, demonstrations and ranger-led walks. Stalls will supply the product of local crafts.

Rainwater will flush the loos into a natural 'sewage' plant. This organic 5 tier cleansing system uses ancient technology. The 150 meter reed bed is self contained, odourless and is indeed beautiful. It is oxygenated by solar power. All that can outwardly be seen is an area of wetland plants surrounded by tall trees but all the output from the estate buildings, the caravan park and over 500,000 visitors each year is 'digested' with the moisture being breathed out by the vegetation.

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