Peppercombe Wood

Peppercombe Wood is a thin strip of ancient woodland that lies next to a small stream and is hidden away at the end of a sunken lane. It is made up of Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), and Oak (Quercus robur), with an understorey of Hazel (Corylus avellana).

Wildlife

In February a blanket of Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) covers the lower slopes and the banks of the stream. A good range of woodland wildflowers can be seen here in spring and many are indicators of ancient woodland. You can find Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium) in the wet areas by the stream, and Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina) on the drier woodland floor. This is also known as Town Hall Clock because it has four florets facing outwards (and a fifth above). Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) and ferns grow in the wetter areas.
In summer you may see Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum), with its row of creamy flowers hanging from a bowed stem.
Peppercombe is full of birdsong, particularly in the spring, and Chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus collybita), Wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes), Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tits (Parus major) are just some of the birds to be found here. Badgers (Meles meles) are also resident.

History and management

The wood was severely affected by Dutch Elm disease in the 1970s when many large Elm (Ulmus minor var. vulgaris) trees were lost The disease is caused by a fungus carried by a wood-boring beetle, which can only bore into an elm tree of a certain size and age.
The fungus blocks the water-conducting channels of the tree and brown, dead looking leaves appearing in the tree canopy during the summer months signal the onset of the disease.
In the 1980s the Elms were replaced with Oak and Ash but Wych Elm has regenerated from the stumps of the dying trees. The rotting stumps in the wood provide a valuable habitat for beetles, bugs and other insects as well as fungi.
Parts of the wood are occasionally coppiced. The Hazel is cut (coppiced) to ground level, to allow more sunlight to reach the woodland floor, which stimulates the growth of woodland wildflowers. The cut Hazel re-grows from its stump.

Other information

Dogs are allowed, but must be on a short leash at all times of year.
Best time to visit: February for Snowdrops, April to May for woodland flowers. Habitat: Woodland
Specialities: Spring woodland flora and common woodland birds.
Location: From Devizes, head towards Andover on the A342. Turn off for Urchfont and head for the middle of the village. Park at the village pond. Keeping pond on your right, turn right into Peppercombe Lane and the reserve will be found at the bottom of the hill on your left. Grid reference SU038574.