For Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Restoring one of Wiltshire’s largest ancient woodlands
Great Wood is an ancient woodland covering 71 hectares near Grittenham in North Wiltshire. Purchased by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust in early 2023, the site was saved from commercial management or fragmented ownership. Ancient woodland now accounts for just 2.5% of the UK, and Great Wood is one of Wiltshire's 20 most extensive ancient woodlands. It is likely the largest remaining stand of wild service trees in the country and includes oak trees over 200 years old.

Project scope
Maydencroft was commissioned to deliver the first phase of restoration for Great Wood. Over four months, the project focused on improving woodland structure, enhancing biodiversity, and creating conditions for long-term ecological recovery. Key works included:

• Maintenance of the main ride system and hedgerows
• Rhododendron clearance (eight man-days) and removal of 1.35 km of old pheasant pens
• Ecological surveys including a full Great Crested Newt (GCN) Method Statement to protect existing populations
• Felling approximately 6 hectares of Norway Spruce affected by Great Spruce Bark Beetle
• Installation of 1.5 km of deer fencing and rabbit netting to support restocking
• Planting 3,950 native broadleaf trees, including oak, hornbeam, cherry, and field maple, in single-species groups with dense spacing to promote natural growth

Challenges
The project required careful management of sensitive ancient woodland habitats, protection of rare species such as GCN, and removal of non-native conifers that offered limited ecological value.

Solutions and expertise
Maydencroft combined forestry expertise with ecological guidance to deliver a phased restoration:

• Ecologists supervised felling operations and identified hibernating GCNs, ensuring their protection during works
• Conifer removal was replaced with native broadleaf trees and newly created woodland glades to increase floral and faunal diversity
• Dense planting ensured trees could support each other while fostering structural complexity
• The discovery of brown hairstreak butterfly eggs highlighted the positive ecological impact of the restoration work

Outcomes
The restoration has transformed Great Wood into a site with enormous potential for nature recovery. The habitat now supports a diverse mix of broadleaf species and provides space for rare wild service trees to thrive. The project opens opportunities for the return of nightingales, nightjars, purple emperor butterflies, and potentially wood white butterflies, long absent from the county.

Client testimonial
“Upon completing the Great Wood project, I want to thank you and Maydencroft for your professionalism and expertise, which have helped us successfully deliver this significant project. The restoration of this PAWS site required a sensitive approach with an understanding of the ancient woodland habitat's associated ecology and special characteristics. Maydencroft immediately understood our aims and helped us to deliver the work to meet the requirements of the funding grant and kickstart the restoration of this superb woodland. Thank you.”
— Samantha Stork, Head of Conservation, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Link to Video Feature

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