Describd as a man of "humanity, simplicity, understanding and humour", Wilfrid Fox was a well-respected doctor with a great passion for horticulture. He was the driving force behind the Roads Beautifying Association, and even a member of a horticultural advisory committee to the King.
When the Thorncombe estate next to his country home was put up for sale in 1937, Dr Fox jumped at the chance to obtain the land so he could experiment with nature's autumnal colours on a large scale.
Sketching autumn colours
In 1937 most of the area was covered in scrub woodland, with several plantations of larch and Douglas fir. Dr Fox began his work to enhance the valley's autumn colours by planting maples, oaks and liquidambars on the upper edge of the slope.