Lady's Wood
Location
Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
March to OctoberAbout the reserve
A wonderful woodland lying on a gentle north facing slope above the Glaze Brook. The nature reserve holds a wonderful bluebell display each spring and is a stronghold for the hazel dormouse.
This was Devon Wildlife Trust's first nature reserve and remains one of its loveliest.
Habitat
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Environmental designation
Location map
How to get to Lady's Wood
Gifted to the Trust in 1961 by the eminent naturalist HG Hurrell Lady's Wood is a small mixed woodland bordered by the Glaze Brook on one side and open pastures on the other. It is approached under a grand viaduct which carries Brunel's Great Western Railway high above.
Dormouse. Photo, Danny Green
Two treasures
Lady's Wood is best-known for two things. First is its display of bluebells which light up the path which circuits the nature reserve each spring. Second is its dormice. Today specially trained and licensed volunteers volunteers continue to monitor the good local population in the UK's longest running study of these wonderful little rodents.
Make your visit into a bigger adventure
Lady's Wood is only small and at 4 hectres will only take you 40 mins to walk around. However it does sit close to the open landscape of Dartmoor and makes a great place to begin a longer stroll.
What a gift
Lady's Wood was one person's (HG Hurrell) gift to Devon Wildlife Trust. Nearly 60 years on and this act of generosity continues to make a difference for people and wildlife.
Lady's Wood. Photo, Dave Pugsley
Dormouse. Photo, Hugh Clark
Lady's Wood. Photo, Steve Hussey
Become a member and support our work
The vital work we do for nature depends on the support of people who care about the future of Devon’s wildlife and wild places.