Mimi's Wood

Mimi’s Wood is privately owned and managed by a local family who are passionate about retaining green space for the benefit of the landscape, wildlife, and local community.

The owners have received a National Forest Woodland Management Grant with a vision to:

• Develop a high forest canopy which becomes a strong feature in the landscape
• Develop a multi-layered woodland structure with ground flora, understory, sub-story, and high canopy to encourage a breadth of wildlife habitats
• Create a positively used community resource for recreational access and local opportunities for woodland education.

The site, which extends to 8.84 hectares (21.8 acres) once formed part of the Earl of Chesterfields Bretby Estate. Planted in 2005 under the National Forest Tender Scheme, the trees and shrubs are now thriving. The woodland has become an important habitat for Foxes, Badgers, Muntjac deer, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Buzzards, Birds and Pheasants.

Ride thinning has been carried out to create open woodland edges, let in light and enhance the habitat for birds and insects. Grass rides have been left longer throughout the summer to allow for a variety of grasses and wildflowers to grow and attract wildlife. Woodland plant species have been encouraged to evolve naturally such as Wood Ferns, Wild Strawberries, Native Bluebells and Marsh Orchids. The woodland floor has also been left so that the network of mycelium underneath can establish which is important for tree resilience and communication. This is evident by the variety of Fungi which appears here each Autumn.

The woods are managed by a group of volunteers who meet throughout the year to undertake woodland management tasks and survey wildlife. If you would like further information about Mimi’s Wood or to find out about volunteering opportunities please contact mimiswood@protonmail.com