Oldfield Meadow, Holsworthy, Devon

Oldfield Meadow is ideal for anyone considering investing in a small piece of England with a vision of planting a substantial amount of new woodland.

It is located on the Cornwall / Devon border in a remarkably beautiful and privileged location and is a piece of land with an incredibly special presence, which captures the warmth of the sun's rays throughout those sunny days.

Access is gained through a padlocked gate just off the public highway, where after entering the gate you will turn right inside the field onto the track, for approx. 70 meters (alongside the public highway). You will then take a left turn down the track until you pass the wooden post and rail fence on your right, at which point you should notice some hard standing parking on the right. You will see a wooden ride stop along with a name plate printed with “Oldfield Meadow.”

You will be amazed by the magnificent views as you gaze northward over the valley towards Hollacombe and beyond; there are breath-taking views as far as the eye can see. This piece of land accommodates mature and established hedgerows along the north and east sides of the meadow, which not only act as splendid boundaries, but also provide a certain amount of shelter from the elements and promotes privacy screening between adjoining meadows. The south side of the meadow is demarcated by a post and rail fence which extends from the eastern boundary to the west side of the meadow where the access track runs.

The land itself has a moderate yet gentle downward slope from the south to the north, which has the advantage of aiding natural drainage in heavy rainfall. A generous amount of convenient hard standing has been laid for parking at the western edge of the meadow which can accommodate space for a couple of vehicles to park and manoeuvre.

This parcel of land has had an extensive agricultural history and has previously been used as pastureland for sheep and cattle as well as creating animal fodder from hay and silage. It has great potential for a new custodian with the opportunity to transform the landscape via the planting of new woodlands. This would compliment the network of established trees which already surround the meadow in the nearby landscape whilst also leaving a legacy for future generations to enjoy.

The land and local area is already an important sanctuary for wildlife, hosting a variety of species including deer, rabbits, and badgers to name but a few. The addition of new woodland into this open area can only serve to extend the diverse habitats that are already present.

Converting these meadows into woodland will bring more biodiversity to the land and local area and will act as an important corridor for wildlife to travel through. Standing trees in the vicinity will provide a source of seeds, aiding the process of woodland establishment through natural regeneration which would work synergistically with active tree planting. Grant funding is available for those who wish to make use of it.

This meadow would most definitely bring an abundance of enjoyment and a sense of achievement to anyone interested in pursuing woodland creation, not only for personal enjoyment and amenity purposes, but also for those interested in carbon offsetting.