Churston Woods

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Churston Woods
Churston Woods in the summer.jpg
Churston Woods
Map
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Shown within Devon
Geography
Location Devon, South West England
Coordinates 50°24′06″N3°31′40″W / 50.401647°N 3.527850°W / 50.401647; -3.527850 Coordinates: 50°24′06″N3°31′40″W / 50.401647°N 3.527850°W / 50.401647; -3.527850

Churston Woods is an area of semi-ancient woodland near the village of Churston Ferrers and the town of Brixham. The woodland is made up of two main sections called The Grove and Ball Copse, both of which are owned by Torbay Council and managed by Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust. [1]

Contents

Description

The woodland is situated on the coast between the towns of Paignton and Brixham. The area is designated as a part of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, one of a number of similarly protected landscapes within the United Kingdom. [2] There are multiple entrances to the woods, including one at the end of a lane near Churston Court and one above Fishcombe Cove in Brixham. The South West Coast Path [3] and the John Musgrave Heritage Trail pass through the woodland. As of 2018, the main path leads through the cleared area at the heart of the woodland, which is now composed primarily of shrubs and saplings, from the lane near Churston to Churston Cove.

History

A limekiln in the valley Lime Kiln in Churston Woods, Brixham.jpg
A limekiln in the valley

Churston Woods is home to a collection of now disused lime kilns including one on either side of the valley near Churston Cove with associated quarries. Limestone from the quarries was burnt with coal in the kilns to produce quicklime, which was used in the production of whitewash and mortar for buildings and was used by farmers as a means of improving soil for agriculture.

Felling and replanting

In January 2017 it was reported that the Forestry Commission had discovered that numerous trees had been infected by Phytophthora ramorum, a disease that can kill a range of tree and plant species. The Commission ordered that all larch along with sweet chestnut trees that showed signs of infection be felled by the 31st of March that year. [1]

Soon after the felling, the replanting of the heart of the woodland was planned. [4] In May 2018, Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust reported that the replanting of the heart of the woodland had been completed. This was supported by local individuals and groups, with four days of community planting taking place. A total of 4800 trees were planted, 1000 of which were planted on the community days. [5] The species planted were native, predominantly oak trees.

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Brixham Human settlement in England

Brixham is a fishing town and civil parish in the district of Torbay in the county of Devon, in the south-west of England. Brixham is at the southern end of Torbay, across the bay from Torquay, and fishing and tourism are the major industries of the town. At the time of the 2011 census it had a population of 16,693.

Torbay Borough and unitary authority in Devon, England

Torbay is a borough and unitary authority in Devon, south west England. It is governed by Torbay Council and consists of 62.87 square kilometres (24.27 sq mi) of land, including the resort towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, located on east-facing Tor Bay, part of Lyme Bay on the English Channel. A popular tourist destination, Torbay's sandy beaches, mild climate and recreational and leisure attractions have given rise to its nickname of the "English Riviera".

Paignton Human settlement in England

Paignton is a seaside town on the coast of Tor Bay in Devon, England. Together with Torquay and Brixham it forms the borough of Torbay which was created in 1998. The Torbay area is a holiday destination known as the English Riviera. Paignton's population in the United Kingdom Census of 2011 was 49,021. It has origins as a Celtic settlement and was first mentioned in 1086. It grew as a small fishing village and a new harbour was built in 1847. A railway line was opened to passengers in 1859 creating links to Torquay and London. As its population increased, it merged with the villages of Goodrington and Preston. Paignton is around 25 miles (40 km) north east of Plymouth and 20 miles (32 km) south of Exeter, and has the fourth largest population in Devon.

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Churston Ferrers Human settlement in England

Churston Ferrers is an area and former civil parish, in the borough of Torbay, Devon, England, situated between the south coast towns of Paignton and Brixham. Today it is administered by local government as the Churston-with-Galmpton ward of the Torbay unitary authority. It contains the coastal village of Churston, the now larger village of Galmpton and the Broadsands area.

Broadsands Human settlement in England

Broadsands is a beach on the coast of Torbay in South Devon, England. It is also the name of an area of housing inland from the beach, in the Churston Ferrers part of Torbay between Paignton and Brixham.

Galmpton, Torbay Human settlement in England

Galmpton is a semi-rural village in Torbay, in the ceremonial county of Devon, England. It is located in the ward of Churston-with-Galmpton and the historic civil parish of Churston Ferrers, though some areas historically considered parts of Galmpton, such as Greenway and Galmpton Creek, are situated in the Devon borough of South Hams.

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Brixham railway station Former railway station in Devon, England

Brixham railway station was a railway station on the Torbay and Brixham Line, serving the town of Brixham, in Devon. The station opened in 1868 and closed in 1963. The station was subsequently demolished and the site was developed as a housing estate.

Statue of William III, Brixham Statue in Devon, England

A statue of William III, also known as the Prince of Orange statue, stands in Brixham, Devon, England. It commemorates the landing of William of Orange and his army at the town on 5 November 1688. The monument has been a Grade II listed building since 1949.

Fishcombe Cove Beach and cove in Devon, England

Fishcombe Cove is a small shingle beach on the south-west coast of England, on the outskirts of Brixham. The beach is surrounded by woodland, and an entrance to Churston Woods is located above Fishcombe Cove. It is important for its eelgrass beds, breeding grounds for native seahorses. It is on the South West Coast Path.

Churston Cove Cove in Devon, England

Churston Cove is a cove with a sand and shingle beach on the outskirts of Brixham, surrounded by cliffs and wooded hillsides. An entrance to Churston Woods is located at the back of the cove. There is a steep path leading down to the beach which also passes through Churston Woods. It is on the South West Coast Path.

References

  1. 1 2 "Tree Felling at woodlands in Churston". www.torbay.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  2. "Map of South Devon AONB - South Devon AONB". www.southdevonaonb.org.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  3. "Fishcombe Point - Walk - South West Coast Path". www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  4. "The Heart of Churston Woods to be Replanted". We Are South Devon. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  5. "Help Us Replant Churston Woods | Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust". www.countryside-trust.org.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2018.