The National Trust is hoping to acquire 23 hectares of sessile oak woodland at Wembury near Plymouth, Devon.
© National Trust / Devon Regional Office
The wood directly adjoins an area of over 200 hectares of existing Trust land bordering the Yealm Estuary and Wembury coastline.
The acquisition 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. The main channel of the estuary is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and has recently been confirmed as a Special Area of Conservation. Sessile oak woodland is recognised as a priority BAP habitat.
© National Trust / Devon Regional Office
As one of the quieter creeks and woodland areas within the estuary, it is a very important feeding and roosting area for a number of bird species including Little Egret, heron and Black tailed Godwit. Internationally significant wildlife within the estuary includes the Atlantic salmon and otter. The estuary and its associated woodlands are regularly visited for significant periods each spring and autumn by migrating ospreys.
The landscape character of the Yealm Estuary is described as a classic Ria coastline defined by its steeply wooded estuary banks and quiet creeks fringed by the coastal plateau of South Devon.
The wood itself and its associated estuary frontage are integral to the dramatic steeply wooded nature of the estuary and form a natural extension to existing Trust ownership.
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