Old Hutchcomb's Copse - Overview

Old Hutchcomb’s Copse is a small ancient and semi-ancient native wood (ASNW) on Cumnor Hill close to Oxford City. There are glimpses of 'the dreaming spires' through the trees.  The site has been wooded continuously since before 1600. Some of our great oaks are thought to be over 300 years old. The Copse is an important natural habitat that has survived despite the development of the surrounding urban area. Oxfordshire Badger Group bought the wood in 2022 and seeks to build a community - The 'Friends of Old Hutchcomb's Copse' to help ensure that it will be:

• sensitively managed to increase the biodiversity of the flora and fauna;
• a private place with controlled access
• used for appropriate community, creative and educational purposes; and
• an unspoiled wildlife haven and never be developed or exploited

Ancient woods are historically and ecologically important. Thanks to their continuous tree cover and and relative lack of  human development they hold unique and complex communities of plants, fungi, insects and other microorganisms. Currently they cover less than 2.5% of the UK. Despite having a high level of protection under planning legislation,  ancient woods are still being lost to development. Oxfordshire is one of the least wooded counties in southern England, with much of its ancient woodland cleared for agriculture. Woods and urban tree planting are now recognised at national and local government level as vital to limit climate change and a core element of biodiversity, amenity and landscape building.

The copse is locally significant as an unspoiled green space and wildlife corridor on Cumnor Hill. It is part of an important ecological mosaic of nearby open spaces.  It is truly 'a hidden gem' that benefits everyone by acting as a haven for wildlife and native plant species.

 Hutchcomb’s Farm was first recorded as ‘Hundescumb’ in 1284. It’s unusual name – meaning ‘valley of the Hound’ is probably Saxon in origin. The Copse is shown on maps going back to 1600 or earlier and is listed on Natural Englands' Ancient woodland inventory.  "Copse" means a small stand of coppiced trees, and the wooded area seems  largely unchanged over the years. We are trying to research the history of the Copse  Please share your memories and any photos with us.

The copse covers 2.04 acres (0.83 hectares). It is an attractive mixed broadleaved woodland running downhill to a flatter open area and a small stream. We have identified 3 main zones within the copse,

We have been busy laying the foundations for conserving the Copse. We now have:

• baseline ecology reports
• a better understanding of the wood through the seasons
• cleared and established paths
• scythed the meadow in autumn and spring
• lots of trail camera footage
• planted oak saplings
• prepared a management plan and are making grant applications

One of our main aims in taking on the Copse is to protect, preserve and enhance it's ecological value.  Shortly after purchasing the Copse, we won a grant to fund a professional ecological baseline survey. This was conducted by Thames Valley Ecological Records Centre (TVERC). who reported that "This case study serves as a shining example of how dedicated conservation efforts can help preserve and enhance vital habitats for native wildlife".

This initial survey confirmed the ecological importance and potential of the site, while providing valuable advice on how we can improve and maintain biodiversity. We've also been lucky enough to have had initial informal advice from the Woodland Trust and from other specialist ecologists on how best to proceed.

We commissioned a professional survey and valuation of the Copse in May 2022. The Copse was described as under managed broadleaved woodlands (principally oak and ash with occasional field maple, hawthorn,  and an understorey of over-mature (large) hazel coppice stools. There are some unusual trees, such as a pink and white horse chestnut, which are a non-native species, and have been planted in the wood. 

In the woodland areas there are some ancient woodland indicator species, such as bluebells. The woodland areas vary in tree density and results in a tree canopy that gives areas of small glades underneath the trees as well as more secluded areas nearer the houses and on the SW edge of the wood. The open glade adjacent to the stream has areas of dense bramble. The stream on site is c 0.5 cm wide and flows in via a culvert under Arnolds Way. It does not flow continually and heavy rain brings down litter etc drained off the road.

Oxfordshire Badger Group bought the wood in 2022 Old Hutchcomb's Copse' to help ensure that it will be:

• sensitively managed to increase the biodiversity of the flora and fauna;
• a private place with controlled access
• used for appropriate community, creative and educational purposes; and
• an unspoiled wildlife haven and never be developed or exploited

The wood has received very little management in recent decades and there are some areas that would benefit from sensitive works. The mature ash trees show evidence of ash die back. The hazel is over mature and the larger stools would merit some considered and selective coppicing to encourage the trees to regenerate. Currently the hazel is beginning to be  too large and is is becoming derelict.  We are advised that none of the trees  currently represent a risk to neighbouring properties. 

The existing access is so limited that we have to carry everything into the wood. This  would make the use of conventional forest machinery impossible.