Work to begin on ancient Dartmoor woodland expansion

Wistman's Wood is often referred to as one of the South West’s last remaining examples of temperate rainforest

Work will start on the expansion and regeneration of an ancient oak woodland on Dartmoor on Sunday.

Volunteers have been given a special licence by Natural England to collect acorns from Wistman's Wood.

The Moor Trees organisation will then take them to Dartington to germinate and grow for two years, before being planted in the periphery of the woodland and the valley opposite.

Earlier this year the Duchy of Cornwall (DoC) announced plans to double the size of the woods by 2040.

Prince William visited the woods on Dartmoor in July

Prince William visited the nine-acre wood in the West Dart Valley shortly after the July announcement.

The DoC said Wistman’s Wood’s contains "very rare" Atlantic mosses and lichens and is considered a "special ecosystem".

DoC head forester Geraint Richards said: “Wistman’s Wood is a rare survivor of the type of woodland that would have once been commonplace on Dartmoor."

He added the DoC was looking forward to seeing the gathered acorns "germinate, grow and eventually be planted out to expand Wistman’s Wood.”

The wood is a national nature reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.

It is often referred to as one of the South West’s last remaining examples of temperate rainforest, the DoC said.