Deer Park Wood

History

Deer Park Wood and Deer Park South together comprise an area of approximately 20 acres. In the 14th century the ridge on which the woods are located was part of the landholdings of the Bishop of Winchester. It then became a Royal Deer Park until the mid-16th century before being used as grazing land and more recently formed part of Witney Aerodrome.

Today, Deer Park Wood forms a natural barrier between Deer Park Estate and the industrial estate opposite.

Both Deer Park Wood and Deer Park Southsites are owned by West Oxfordshire District Council and have a network of woodland paths, with Colwell Brook flowing through Deer Park South. They are a great place to walk your dogs, watch for wildlife and meet people.

The woods are managed by Witney Woodland Volunteers following agreements with the Council dating back to 2010, The volunteers actively manage the land to improve it both for wildlife and local people.

Woodland

Over 800 young native trees have been planted to increase the site’s biodiversity – these include alder, aspen, ash, birch, blackthorn, buckthorn, cherry, crab apple, dogwood, elder, elm, field maple, guelder rose, hawthorn, hazel, hornbeam, lime, oak, privet, rowan, Scots pine and spindle. In the damper areas, willow and black poplar have been planted.

Planting of the maturing woodlands commenced around 2000, and bird and bat boxes have been installed in many locations to encourage wildlife.

Wildflower Meadows

The wildflower meadow areas have been sown with a variety of native species and orchids have been transplanted from a local development site. The diversity of wildflowers attracts many butterflies and other insects, and the site has received a Friends of the Earth ‘Bee World’ plaque.

Orchard

An orchard of old English and Oxfordshire varieties of apple, plum, damson and greengage, coupled with traditional pear and quince trees, provides food for many insects - and a free fruit harvest for visitors!

Balancing Pond

The balancing pond in Deer Park South was designed to act as a sustainable drainage system for the Range Road industrial units. The pond dries up seasonally, making it a good place for invertebrates such as diving beetles to breed in. Bats can be seen circling the pond at dusk in the summer, foraging on the insects that hover over the pond. The grass is kept short by rabbits, whose warrens are hidden within the site’s scrubby areas.

Please take care when viewing the balancing pond and avoid walking along the steep slopes on the sides which can be very slippery when wet - the pond is often deeper than it appears.

Colwell Brook

The Colwell Brook runs north to south through he site, eventually emptying into Queen Emma’s Dyke and the northern arm of the river Windrush. The brook acts as a freshwater resource for local wildlife.