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© John Faulkner
The Beech Glade
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© National Trust
Spreading oak tree
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© Andy Butler
Red Squirrel - an Isle of Wight speciality
Paths wind through ancient oak woodland with sunny glades
Borthwood Copse is a delightful spot to wander amongst ancient oak and beech trees, sunny glades and chestnut and hazel coppice. You may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a red squirrel as it scurries through the upper branches in search of food.
Borthwood Copse used to be part of a much larger Medieval hunting forest in which the landscape would have been more open like parts of the New Forest. The landscape is more densely wooded now.
The wood features traditional coppice management of hazel and sweet chestnut and the produce is used at various locations on the island. Traditional woodland management helps to keep a variety of wildlife such as bluebells, red squirrels, dormice, woodland bats.
Borthwood Copse is noted for its many rare beetles and other insects which depend on the decaying wood in the older trees.
Don't miss
- Look out for carpets of bluebells under the oaks in May.
- Listen for the chirring of wood crickets on the edge of sunny glades.
- Red squirrels are most active and visible in the autumn.
Red squirrels
The Isle of Wight is one of the last strongholds of the red squirrel in England, and many of them can be seen on our land. Borthwood Copse is a great place to spot them, but you'll need some patience.
Visit the Isle of Wight
Did you know that we own and manage more than 10% of the 23 x 15-mile Isle of Wight, including 17 miles of unspoilt coastline and many well-known beauty spots? See our ten countryside areas and four other special places.
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