The Devenish

The Devenish in autumn

The Devenish nature reserve in autumn. Credit: Steve Day

The Devenish

This reserve will be closed to the public from Monday 23 September for essential ash-dieback works. We will update this webpage when the reserve is safe enough to re-open.

A wonderful mix of young woodland, mature beech woodland, chalk downland and meadow.

Location

Little Durnford, Lower Woodford
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP4 6AJ

OS Map Reference

OS map 130 Grid ref: SU128349

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A static map of The Devenish

Know before you go

Size
24 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

Drive past South Wilts Grammar School and through Stratford-sub-Castle. At junction at end of village do not turn left over the bridge but head straight on and then bear left towards Little Durnford. Continue on this road - car park is on the right.
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Bicycle parking

There is 3 bike capacity cycle rack at the edge of the car park.
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Grazing animals

We have a permanent flock of 6 Balwen sheep and a season flock of Herdwick sheep.
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Access

Not suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Dogs

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See our FAQ's for more information

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

All year round. Nearby attractions include Amesbury Abbey (4 miles), Stonehenge (5 miles), Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve (6 miles), Netheravon Dovecote (8 miles).

About the reserve

This reserve offers a wonderful mix of young woodland, mature beech woodland, chalk downland and meadow. The walk to the top of the steep chalk downland slope is worth the effort for the spectacular views of the Woodford Valley below. The Devenish is within hiking distance from central Salisbury and is close to Old Sarum.

Wildflowers reach their peak in early summer and include fragrant orchid, clustered bellflower, harebells and common rock rose, which are important food plants for butterflies. Look for the brown argus, green veined white, and small skipper. Songsters include garden warblers and blackcaps while buzzards wheel overhead. The large beech trees along the road are more than 200 years old. Once part of a beech walk in the landscaped grounds of Durnford Manor, these veteran trees are dying. However, deadwood is a valuable habitat for many invertebrates. One of the most spectacular here is the rhinoceros beetle.

On top of the reserve are some lovely old hornbeams, beeches, yew and hazel. The mixed woodland was planted about 40 years ago and there is a lot of secondary growth, such as ash. We are trying to extend the wildlife-rich wood pasture (trees interspersed with grass) by thinning out ash and larch trees. We also coppice the wood to create sunny areas for wildflowers. Sheep graze the reserve throughout the year, eating down the tougher grasses and ash saplings.

Contact us

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Contact number: 01380 725670

Map of The Devenish

Map of the Devenish

Events at The Devenish

Lovely woodland walk uphill. Amazing views! Lot's of dens for children to play in.
Andrea from Salisbury
Volunteer

Volunteer, Aline Denton, cuts brambles and blackthorn as part of the farm's conservation management - Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION

Volunteer at The Devenish

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