Forest bathing is coming to Philleigh Woods

You can already take a public footpath down through Philleigh’s ancient woodland to the creek and back, but work is underway to extend the woods and establish 8 kilometres of looped walkways.

The newly created Philleigh Way Wood will allow everyone to enjoy part of the Roseland’s protected landscape which has not been accessible to the public before.

With funding from the England Woodland Creation Offer landowners James Martin and Amie Pascoe are planting 21,000 trees over the next year to extend his 60 acres of woodland. Help with planting has come from Forest for Cornwall, and five thousand trees are already in the ground.

Planting

New trees will be planted on parts of the land that is wet and steep and not easy to farm. Predominantly native species are going in down to the river, such as oaks, hazels, beech and birch.

Grubbed out orchards have been re-established with a mix of trees including 60 apple juice and cider apple trees, as well as cherries, walnuts and quince trees.

Walkways and forest bathing

The network of looped pathways will take you past the newly planted orchards to ancient woodland which forms part of Cornwall’s temperate rainforest overlooking Ardevora Creek and the River Fal.

The area is also part of the Upper Fal Estuary and Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). These woods and creeks on the Roseland are protected because of the ancient, coppiced oaks that grow there.

The plan is to create openings and glades with lower-level planting where you can stop to simply take in the views and soak up the landscape around you. A chance, maybe, to do some Forest Bathing.

There are many health benefits to forest bathing – the practice of being calm amongst the trees and taking in the natural habitat around you. And you will find lots more information on this through Forestry England

A new bird hide stands on the banks of the creek from where you can enjoy an abundance of wildlife. You might spot a greenshank, godwit, curlew, or osprey. Or, even get to see an otter in the river, if you are really lucky. Community groups and schools will be encouraged to use the hide along with professional and amateur ornithologists.

The walk will then loop back to the farm where there are plans for a shop, café and facilities for local small businesses.

Diversification and long-term vision

James said: “For centuries farms have diversified. We have to reinvest and think about the future and the next generation. By making the most of the natural beauty here on the farm we hope people who will want to come and enjoy it with us.

“As well as being a good thing to give back hopefully it will help support the businesses we want to develop up in the yard – a café and artisan workshops, a shop, and some co-working office space.”

Public access woodland

Path works and a new car park should be finished by midsummer, and it is hoped Philleigh Way Wood will be open to the public by the beginning of the autumn.

Access will be free of charge.

To keep up with progress just search on Instagram for philleighwaywood

Picture courtesy of Adam Walker, Walking Cornwall