Pensford
Woodland Trust wood
Size:
3.56 ha (8.80 acres)
Grid reference:
ST616639
Map reference:
Explorer 155
OS Landranger 172
Nestled in the Chew Valley and on the western edge of the village of Pensford, Culvery Wood is a peaceful 3.17 hectare (7.38 acre) woodland with a circular walk that runs past the spectacular Pensford Viaduct.
Situated on the western edge of the village of Pensford, approximately 11.3km (7 miles) south of Bristol and 12.9km (8 miles) west of Bath.
The wood can be found on an unmarked lane that runs to the right of Mill Corner Garage which is located on Church Street.
Walk towards and under Pensford Viaduct to a gate that is clearly labelled as Culvery Wood.
From the entrance turn right up the hill into the planting area, which is on the eastern side of the wood.
Culvery Wood is just off the A37 which runs from Bristol to Shepton Mallet, in a village called Pensford.
If you are coming from Bristol turn right off of the A37 onto Church Street. However, if you are coming from Shepton Mallet turn left onto Church Street.
The closest train station is located in Keynsham 6.9km (4.3 miles) away. Keynsham is on a Great Western Main Line and connects to Bristol Temple Meads train station.
Visit National Rail for more information.
The 376 Mendip Explorer bus from Bristol stops at Pensford Bridge on the A37.
Visit Traveline for more information.
If you are an avid walker, you may want to include Culvery Wood in the circular Three Peak Walk in Avon, which covers 26.6km (16.5 miles) of hilly terrain, and includes Maes Knoll, Knowle Hill and Blackberry Hill.
The main entrance is 200 metres up an unmarked lane, known locally as Culvery Lane, off Church Street.
Culvery Wood has a circular path and two public footpaths that cross the site. There is access to the River Chew along the southern boundary. Once inside the wood, the tracks are all unsurfaced and sloping, and a circular path runs through the site.
There is no official Woodland Trust car park at the wood, but there is some on-road parking for a few cars on Church Street, Pensford.
There are no toilets at Culvery Wood. The nearest public facilities are at Chew Valley Lake Playground.
Culvery Wood is a mixed-age woodland that is home to veteran oak, ash and hornbeam, and is alive with birds, bats and insects.
Wood edge habitats and rides provide important habitat for nesting birds and invertebrates. Given the presence of a watercourse, trees and a viaduct, it is likely that there are bats in the area.
The special thing about Culvery Wood is that there are a large number of veteran hornbeam trees, which is unusual for the local area, as well as veteran oak and ash trees.
In addition to these species it is possible to see wild cherry, silver birch, small leaved lime, rowan, goat willow, crack willow, alder, spindle, field maple, hawthorn, hazel, holly, buckthorn, dog rose, guilder rose and crab apple.
There is excellent ground flora with an abundance of spring flowers including bluebell, dogs mercury, wood anemone and primrose.
Look out for:
Culvery Wood is a mixed-age woodland standing on a south-westerly facing slope. It is part planted, and part mature secondary woodland, with ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) characteristics. An existing hedgerow runs along the footpath at the west boundary which was layed in 2016. There is also a small area of natural regeneration and planted woodland with remnants of a pond.
Explore:
Culvery Wood was acquired by the Woodland Trust in 1997 through 'Woods on your Doorstep', the Woodland Trust's millennium project to create 200 new community woods across England and Wales.
Culvery Wood is part of the Forest of Avon. Local communities in the area were involved in the fundraising, design and planting of broadleaf species on the upper slopes around the existing woodland in 1998.
Further extensions to the northwest of the wood were gifted to the Woodland Trust in 2000 and 2016 (two acres and one acre respectively) by, and in memory of, a local landowner; and were planted with native broadleaf trees by volunteers and Pensford Primary School children.
The surrounding area was extensively mined for coal in the late 19th and early 20th century, of which some evidence remains outside the site, including a large viaduct forming an impressive landscape feature to the south
Wear suitable clothing as paths can get muddy.
Culvery Wood offers a circular walk that is not practical for pushchairs but is friendly to toddlers, older children and those that are fully mobile. Foragers will be delighted to find fruits in the hedgerows.
Visiting woods
Dogs are welcome for walkies in our woods. Take a look at our tips and guidelines for ensuring we keep our woods safe and special for dogs and wildlife.
Visiting woods
Taking a walk in the woods is the easiest way to enjoy the outdoors and get closer to nature.
Visiting woods
See what's in season with our guide to sustainable foraging with top tips on how to pick, cook and eat wild plants.
This wood is just one of many to have been protected by gifts in wills, securing it for generations to come. Your legacy gift could also make a real difference to woods, trees and wildlife.
Learn what your gift could mean
