Escape the hustle and bustle of Exeter city centre with a visit to Stoke Woods
Located to the north of Exeter, Stoke Woods is a great place to have a break from city life and get in touch with nature.
Stretch your legs on our wild trails and visit some of the oldest and largest trees in Exeter.
https://www.forestryengland.uk/stoke-woods
Stoke Woods Pennsylvania Road car park, Exeter EX4 5BN
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Forestry operations at Stoke Woods
Updated 7th September 2021
Stoke Woods is a working woodland producing sustainable timber. We will be working here this autumn. We don't know exactly when conditions will allow us to start work, but we will update this information as soon as we can confirm dates. This page provides more information about the work we're doing.
What is happening? Sections of the wood where the broadleaf trees have grown very dense will be thinned. Stoke Woods is classified as a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS) which means that we are managing it back to the way it would have been several hundred years ago. By removing selected trees in these areas, we will give native broadleaf trees space to grow to their potential, and let more light onto the forest floor. This improves the habitat for ground flora and the wildlife it supports.
The timber that we grow here is certified as being sustainably produced.
Can I still visit Stoke Woods? The most important thing for Forestry England is to keep the public, our staff, and contractors safe. Stoke Woods will be closed to the public for around four weeks while we are working. Please follow all signs, diversions and closures at all times. These are for your safety, whether or not you can see or hear us working. This will help us to finish working as quickly as possible. Forestry work is very hazardous. A falling tree can weigh several tonnes and hit the ground at nearly 60mph. If a harvesting machine chainsaw snaps, it can fly through the forest like a bullet.
https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/forestry-operations-stoke-woods
Mid Devon Forest Plan
The Mid Devon Forest Plan area is made up of four separate forest blocks totalling 249 hectares in Devon. As forest blocks set within the intimate wooded valley landscape they have very high natural and landscape diversity and value.
The forests managed as part of the public forest estate stretch from Oldridge in the west, 1 miles from Tedburn St Mary, through Whitestone and Stoke Woods to Huxham Brake in the east all on the outskirts, and within 2 miles of Exeter.
https://www.forestryengland.uk/forest-planning/mid-devon-forest-plan
Walking at Stoke Woods
Stoke Woods offers a real sense of seclusion despite being only 2 miles from Exeter City Centre. Enjoy stunning views of the River Exe and a labyrinth of paths exploring this renowned ancient woodland.
The site is a sanctuary for many species and is designated a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) making it a real haven for wildlife. We work in partnership with several organisations to ensure the mammal and bird life and their special habitats are maintained and improved.
Parking areas are located off Pennsylvania Road and Stoke Road.
https://www.forestryengland.uk/stoke-woods/walking-stoke-woods
Exeter District : Stoke Woods © Lewis Clarke cc-by-sa/2.0 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland
Stoke Woods SSSI
This site contains areas of ancient semi-natural woodland and recently managed woodland, supporting a good population of breeding birds. These woods lie in the lower Exe valley, with a mainly north-westerly aspect, between 30 m
and 140 m in altitude. Grits and shales of the Culm Measures (Carboniferous) underlie mostly gleyed soils, which are generally well drained except near streams. In places the soils have not been disturbed, so that original pedological profiles are available for study.
Much of the lower part of the woodland was present in ca. 1800. Parts are dominated by oak Quercus spp. or ash Fraxinus excelsior. Wild cherry Prunus avium and wild service tree Sorbus torminalis are present, and field maple Acer campestre at the eastern end. Beech Fagus sylvatica and sycamore A. pseudoplatanus are common in the central and western parts, and alder Alnus glutinosa and willows Salix spp. grow in the wetter valleys. Much of the site is actively managed, so there is a mixture of broad-leaved high forest, coppice, saplings and scrub, conifer plantations at various stages of growth, patches of tall herbs and grasses, and bare earth and short vegetation along paths.
The ground flora reflects the variety of drainage and cover. Some areas are dominated by great woodrush Luzula sylvatica, bramble Rubus fruticosus or bracken Pteridium aquilinum, and there are patches of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and common cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense. Other areas support species indicative of more mineral-rich conditions, such as enchanter’s nightshade Circaea lutetiana, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, wood avens Geum urbanum and primrose Primula vulgaris. Wetter ground by the streams carries meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and pendulous sedge Carex pendula.
Over 40 species of woodland birds breed in Stoke Woods, such as buzzard Buteo buteo, tawny owl Strix aluco, all three British species of woodpecker, and nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos in some years. Several species of warbler nest in the Woods, with a particularly large population of wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix.
The site, being on the outskirts of Exeter, has been used for University and school education over many years.
https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1002920.pdf
Little Devon Enjoy the three tiers of woodland, the enormous den, the mass of mud in the winter and the fact that it’s sooo close to Exeter. Stoke woods, just to the north of Exeter, is an 100 acre pocket of non-native conifer (which are slowly being removed to allow the native trees space) and deciduous managed woodland with beautiful wild flowers and offers a great network of paths for a lovely walk in nature. While there are two waymarked trails, some of the signs are no longer and there is no map to follow. The network of paths make it an interesting walk and you can adapt the length to how you’re feeling, but do follow our interactive map if you like a route. Its easy to understand the woodland if you consider it to be on three levels, lower, middle and upper. There are two car parks: one on the lower level – which is best for those wanting a buggy walk and one of the upper level which offers some more woodland tracks (and mud in winter!).
https://www.littledevon.co.uk/stoke-woods/
Woodland Trust Situated just off the Exeter to Tiverton road and within sight of the mainline railway track to London this was never going to be a peaceful woodland, but it is surprisingly diverse mixed conifer and deciduous woodland, with some beautiful wild flowers and good wide tracks, and a convenient car park. Good for getting out of Exeter and seeing some wildlife.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/stoke-woods/
Walks From Exeter
Keep healthy in Exeter by using walking and cycling. Get buses to find new walks when it is safe to do so. Exeter is full of relaxing or energetic walks.
- Stroll by the River Exe and the Exeter Ship Canal
- Train for a marathon by walking or running the Exeter Cosy Routes
- Visit the green lungs of Exeter by walking Exeter's Green Circle
- Look for wildlife on the River Exe Wild Walk
- Go farther by cycling the Exe Estuary Trail or walking the Exe Valley Way and the Devonshire Heartland Way
Use this site to plan your walks, look at the Covid19 data on the Devon Dashboard, listen to the science and exercise your personal responsibility as well as our body and mind.
