Drews Pond Nature Reserve
A short walk from Devizes town centre is Drews Pond woods, from where there’s a circular walk that takes you past the Sleight Valley Golf Range where you can pause for a welcome café break and possibly a quick drive or two, as well as track that leads to Potterne village with many other public footpaths extending as far as Salisbury Plain.
Historically, it was the old route from Salisbury and the south coast into the centre of town, and an old hostelry – now a Peace Garden – sat opposite the pond itself for many years.
Spotting wildlife
Devizes folk have a special connection with this beautiful habitat that sits on our doorstep. A nature trail was completed, including benches, picnic areas, interpretation boards and two sections for wheelchair users. An outdoor classroom and dipping platforms have been constructed. Thousands of trees have been planted, coppice restored, and a wildflower meadow created.
There is an extensive species list in the woods, with thirty ancient woodland indicator plant species and many species of bird use the wood. Thirteen species of bat have been recorded, including four Annex II species.
Butterflies like the brimstone, orange-tip, red admiral and tortoiseshell feast on nectar in the fruit blossom of the nearby restored orchard. Old trees and areas of dead wood provide homes for lichens and beetles and apple windfalls provide life-saving meals for redwing, fieldfare and fox in cold weather.
Spot a long-tailed tit, greater spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, jay, buzzard, robin, blackbird, nuthatch, and tree creeper. You may even catch the odd deer wandering around.
There are occasional organised activities throughout the year, notably ‘dawn chorus’ and bat walks.
Discover ///trade.believer.birdcage
Jubilee Wood
The Diamond Jubilee Wood runs to the side of Caen Hill locks on the Kennet & Avon Canal and was one of 60 new woods to commemorate the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
You will find beautiful a broadleaved woodland of native trees that provide a fantastic habitat for an array of wildlife. There is a network of paths, picnic benches, fruit trees and far-reaching views across Wiltshire towards Bath and the Cotswolds.
Discover Jubilee Wood: ///respected.hubcaps.flattered
Belvedere wood, Quakers Walk & Roundway Hill
In the medieval period Belvedere wood and the surrounding area was part of Devizes Castle deer park.
The wood is named after the silk mill, owned in 1848 by Frederick Walker, which lay in the meadow at the bottom of Dyehouse Lane. The woodland stream turned the mill wheel for the production of the famous Devizes silk and ‘cassimere’ weaving and it provided the water needed for the dye-house, giving the the lane its name.
Discover Quakers Walk (a good starting point): ///certainly.walks.prickly
Discover Belvedere woods (on the left halfway along Quakers Walk): ///what3words.com/lamenting.fires.twigs
Discover Roundway Hill & Iron Age hill fort (walk to the end of Quakers Walk and up the hill): ///spelling.acted.dusters
