Andrew's Wood

Andrew's Wood is a perfect slice of the beautiful South Hams landscape. From the top of the reserve views stretch over the undulating hills as far as the eye can see.

The nature reserve holds a secret. In the 19th century Andrew's Wood was known as Stanton Moor. In those times it looked very different with scattered farms, open fields and few trees. Today's landscape is a comparatively new one.

Which way to wildlife?

A network of paths lets you choose the direction to take. Whichever way you decide to go you're bound to encounter wildlife on the way.

Andrew's Wood mix of ponds, meadows, glades and, of course, woodland provides the backdrop to a rich mix of wildlife. This is the place to see woodland birds and wildflowers, amphibians and reptiles, fungi and lichens, moths and butterflies. The reserve seems to have it all.

Look out!

Look out too for our herd of Exmoor ponies as they graze the meadows and woodland glades of Andrew's Wood.

These ponies play a vital part in the lives of one of the nature reserve's most special residents - the heath lobelia. The ponies' hooves create bare patches without which the plant could not set its seed. 

The heath lobelia is now thought to exist at just six places in England. It shows off its deep purple flower spikes in July and August each year. Like so many other wildflowers it has disappeared from our wider countryside, but at Andrew's Wood it continues to flourish.