Haddon Woods
The UK was once nearly completely forested, legend has it that a red squirrel could hop from tree to tree from Nottingham forest to Lands End. By 1066 many of our fantastic forests were destroyed for war efforts and construction. The First World War saw another blow to our forests as they were chopped down in their masses to build trenches in Europe as well as increased land use for agriculture. Exmoor was once a Royal forest reserved for the kings deer hunting pursuits. Few pockets of native ancient woodland remain in this country and in the rest of Europe as well. It is thought that 8000 years ago the whole of Exmoor Park was covered in native Oak trees. Exmoor has over 1500 recorded ancient native trees and still counting.
Haddon woods are a stunning native Oak and Beech woodland that runs alongside the river Haddeo in the national park Exmoor. Haddon woods is a fantastic place for nature enthusiasts, the spring and summer seasons see fantastic floral displays of bluebells, foxgloves, primroses, early purple orchids and forget me knots as well as rare lichens and an assortment of edible and inedible fungi. The woods are also home to badgers, dormice, foxes, red deer as well as peregrine falcons, buzzards and kestrels. The Haddeo River is rich in trout, salmon and many stunning insects such as dragonflies and mayflies whose presence indicates the waters high quality.
It is said that no good Oak for construction is grown west of Exeter, Haddon woods is a fine example of the classic and stunning English Oak used for most of the housing and building many years ago. The Exmoor white horse inn is a perfect example of this fine timbers use, the floor boards of the inn were locally sourced from Haddon woods and are as good today as they ever were. This quality of timber and the use of native hardwoods have declined since the pockets of native woods are sparse and protected. This leads the way to the commercial pine plantations you will see dominating the countryside.
The Haddeo River comes through Wimbleball Lake a stunning area used for fishing, camping and water sports with stunning surroundings of native trees and wildlife. The river is wooded on both sides with Haddon woods one side and Storridge woods the other.
There are countless walking routes that can be tailored for different scenery and views. The beauty of Exmoor is that it has a perfect contrast of English countryside, stunning lakes, ancient woodlands, open heather moor land and jagged coastlines all of this accessible easily from anywhere within the park. Ancient British woodlands are a rarity and highly protected for there ecological value we should try our hardest to protect these areas and preserve this ancient relic of Exmoor national park
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