Duncliffe Wood

Prominent on the summits of Duncliffe Hill, just west of Shaftesbury, and rising out of Blackmoor Vale, this large ancient woodland site can be spotted from miles around. A designated site of nature conservation interest, it has a rich mix of woodland species, including what are reported to be the oldest living things in Dorset - a scattering of coppice stools of small-leaved limes. Once an oak, ash and hazel woodland, the site was traditionally coppiced but was felled and replanted in the fifties and sixties with a mix of Norway spruce, oak, larch and beech. Here you will find an array of Dorset ‘notable’ species include moschatel, yellow archangel, wood speedwell and early-purple orchid. The wood is a reservoir of wildlife with a rich butterfly mix including silver-washed fritillary and white admiral. Other wildlife includes tawny owls, various bat species and birds such as buzzards, woodpeckers and tree-creepers. The surrounding landscape is characterised by sweeping valleys and rounded hills with a dominance of woodland on the scarp faces. Pasture predominates in the area and the wood is almost enveloped by improved grassland, adding to the dramatic impact of the site on the local scene.