About Rusland woods

In 2017 David Archibald, a long-standing member and supporter, kindly gifted us two woods, Bull Coppice and Resp Haw Wood, running down the eastern side of the Rusland Valley. 

The two woods form a sizeable block of ancient semi-natural woodland with a mix of oak, birch, ash, small leaved lime, holly and other native species. The ground flora includes bluebells, dog’s mercury, primroses and wood sorrel and they have several archaeological features which go back to the tanning and bobbin industry nearby. The woods are temperate rainforest and we have worked with Plantlife for two years to survey their lichens, and bryophytes and do some work to make them more resilient. Look out for the ancient small leaved lime, pollarded holly and yew.

Like all our land, these woods are Open Access, so you are free wander around them.

Our work here

With the help of our volunteers, we’re rejuvenating these woodlands, caring for the trees, reducing the spread of invading holly, and beating back the bracken that can cover the woodland floor. We’ve put in ten small trial enclosures to see what trees will regenerate when not been nibbled by the local deer. We have had some tree veteranisation work done to create veteran features in young trees to help nature. Detailed lichen and bryophyte surveys confirm indicators of temperate rainforest.