Avon wood is a private project to create a new biodiverse woodland in Warwickshire. All of the species planted are native, and the saplings provided by Warwickshire based nurseries. The site is a former arable field, situated on the B4115 between Hill Wootton and Leek Wootton.
The plot is 32 acres bordered to the north by the road and south by the River Avon. Saplings were planted in December 2018. The design comprises four distinct areas, the central block of the site is designated as oak woodland, 34% oak, plus significant numbers of hornbeam, beech, lime, alder and silver birch. Where the woodland borders the road is designated as oak with edge colour, still 34% oak, but with higher proportions of wild cherry, lime, whitebeam and rowan. By the river, which is subject to occasional flooding, the mix is wet woodland, mainly different species of willow. In total 18,100 saplings from 30 native tree and shrub species have been planted. The southernmost 2 acres have been planted as a wildflower meadow.
The south part of the site is within the Warwick 100 area and the team have been asked to keep records of notable birds on their visits:
2024 records
17th Jan - Barn owl, water rail, meadow pipit, stonechat, kestrel
26th Jan - large flock of finches including 40+ lesser redpoll, 4 little egret, 1 cattle egret
19th Feb - 12 teal, 2 Egyptian goose, grey heron
14th Mar - Pair mistle thrush, 2 little egret
14th April - Common whitethroat
15th April - 2 oystercatcher
