Shillingford Wood video (https://youtu.be/20g8JcP9qhA)
The Friends of Shillingford Wood tell their story
The Devon woodland that now belongs to the community and its wildlife
In the village of Shillingford St George, just south of Exeter, a remarkable story unfolded that shows how community action can protect nature, bring people together, and leave a legacy for generations.
A woodland worth fighting for
A couple of years ago, Shillingford Wood was put up for sale and the Friends of Shillingford Wood formed and set out on a mission: buy the wood and protect it for the community and wildlife.
“I found this wood by accident when I was out walking my dog, found the [for sale] sign up there and thought, ‘Oh my god, Shillingford St George has got a wood!’”
Residents recognised the environmental and emotional value of the woodland. Though small in size, Shillingford Wood is rich in wildlife and is a haven for birds, including the woodpeckers that can be heard in the trees. It also draws visitors each spring with carpets of bluebells.
Volunteers and neighbours rallied together through social media campaigns, local press, word-of-mouth, and even short films created to attract corporate sponsorship. Through their campaigning, they raised enough money to buy the woodland.
The power of community
The Friends of Shillingford Wood's fundraising and conservation efforts transformed and connected the community. Their journey involved everything from creating Facebook pages and putting up posters to speaking with media outlets and organising ecological surveys. Recently, ecology students helped establish a 25-year woodland management plan—a sign of sustainable thinking at its best.
“A lot of the people who helped, I never knew them before. We gained lots of friends. I talked to lots more people in the street, and certainly when you come up here, there's a feeling of happiness that this is area is safe now and it will be safe for a long, long time.”
A blueprint for local action
Shillingford’s story highlights a powerful message: you don’t have to wait for top-down change—communities can lead the way.
By identifying a local space that matters, uniting around a cause, and staying persistent, every community can take action to protect wildlife and bring people together in the process.
“We didn’t give up. I think that’s the secret of it all.”
Thank you Steve Kandes for producing the video telling the story of Friends of Shillingford Wood.
Creating a wilder Devon one community at a time
Our Wilder Communities programme is all about helping you turn spaces where you live, learn, work or play into spaces that are greener, wilder and richer in nature.
If you already have an idea and need some help to get started - take a look at our resource bank which includes everything from 'how to' guides to advice about setting up a community group.
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