The National Trust has announced that it has successfully completed the purchase of Wembury Woods at Wembury near Plymouth.
Wembury Woods directly adjoins an area of over 200 hectares (500 acres) of existing Trust land bordering the Yealm Estuary and Wembury Coastline.
The purchase of Wembury Woods will unlock public access across a much wider area of National Trust owned land following the construction of a new footpath which will link with land owned by the Woodland Trust and maximise protection of this wider area.
Wembury Woods lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is part of a designated coastal preservation area. It is also within the South Devon Heritage Coast boundary. Sessile Oak woodland is recognised as a priority Biodiversity Action Plan habitat.
The National Trust received many letters urging this acquisition from a wide range of partners and individuals including; The South Devon AONB Service, The South West Coast Path Project and Association, the Parish Council and the Wembury Amenity Society.
David Ford, National Trust Property Manager for South Devon said:
'The National Trust is delighted to announce this latest acquisition which will allow people access for the first time to a magical part of the Yealm. The Trust has pursued a strategy of acquiring land in Wembury Bay and the Yealm Estuary since 1938, reflecting its beauty and conservation value, but also, critically, the need to protect against encroachment from the suburban growth of Plymouth.'
© NTPL / Joe Cornish
The Trust will now begin a process of working with local organisations and people over its future management and later this year begin work on creating a 4 kilometre footpath from the coastpath at Warren Point in the south through existing Trust farmland and on through Wembury Wood itself to link with Woodland Trust land at Hollacombe and the Erme–Plym Trail.
David Pinder, Chairman of Wembury Amenity Society said:
'This is excellent news. Conservation is assured, and the acquisition opens up great access opportunities for the local community and visitors alike. We are extremely grateful to the National Trust for their continuing commitment to safeguarding this splendid part of South Devon.'
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