Exploring Ashclyst Forest

Leaves from a tree with shades of orange and gold — Autumn has arrived in Ashclyst Forest, Devon | © Malcolm Jarvis

Ashclyst Forest is one of the largest woods in East Devon and a haven for butterflies, bluebells and birds. It's the perfect place to reconnect with nature whether it's for a family ramble or dog walk.

The heart of the estate

Ashclyst forest is in the heart of the Killerton estate, once owned by the Acland family. The estate has over 700 hectares of woodlands and Ashclyst was planted just over 100 years ago by Sir Francis Acland. This was in direct response to the shortage of wood after the First World War. Sir Francis was also influential in setting up the Forestry Commission at that time.

Ashclyst Forest consists of natural woodland pasture, commercial conifer plantations, coppice coups and even rare wet woodland. Trees such as oak, hazel, beech and ash provide a wonderful habitat for a rich variety of wildlife.

Wildlife at Ashclyst forest

Ashclyst is home to many species of wildlife and is the perfect place to connect with nature and listen to the birdsong. Bluebells carpet the woodland floor in spring, deer can be spotted, and nesting birds fill the tree top canopy, with nightjars churring in summer evenings.

Butterflies

Butterflies are the main wildlife attraction in Ashclyst. The mix of habitats supports a great variety, although they fly at different times of the year. The rarest butterflies are the white admiral, small pearl-bordered fritillary, dark green fritillary and silver-washed fritillary. You can expect to see orange-tip, ringlet, common blue, large skipper, gatekeeper, speckled wood, marbled-white, green-veined white, purple hairstreak, brown hairstreak and brown argus too.

Small pearl-bordered fritillary Ashclyst Forest, Devon — Small pearl-bordered fritillary Ashclyst Forest | © National Trust Images/Matthew Oates

Follow the Countryside Code

With more people than ever enjoying our coast and countryside places, we’re asking for your help in looking after them during your visit. Please help us protect wildlife and landscapes by following the Countryside Code, which includes taking any litter home with you, and not lighting a barbecue or campfire.

Bringing dogs to Ashclyst Forest

Dogs are welcome at Ashclyst forest and it’s a great place for a walk. Please keep dogs under close control and on a lead around livestock. Please be aware that there are no dog poo bins onsite. Leaving bagged waste in the countryside is a hazard to wildlife and livestock so please take bagged waste home with you.

Keeping control of your dog

Our definition of close or effective control is:

Being able to recall your dogs in any situation at the first call
Being able to clearly see your dog at all times (not just knowing they have gone into the undergrowth or over the crest of the hill). In practice, this means keeping them on a footpath if the surrounding vegetation is too dense for your dog to be visible
Not allowing them to approach other visitors without their consent
Having a lead with you to use if you encounter livestock or wildlife, or if you are asked to use one

A working estate

Ashclyst forest is also managed woodland, as Sir Francis Acland had originally planned. All woodlands on the estate have a woodland management plan, which are approved by the Forest Commission. Alongside this, the Trust has signed up to the United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS) which means there are strict rules on how the Trust manages its woodland, especially for re-planting new trees.

How the timber is used

The forest was designed and planted to grow timber to be used on the estate. Timber is still harvested from the forest today, ensuring there are trees left in each area to become the veteran trees of the future.

Timber that leaves the estate is normally sent to local timber mills to be turned into paper, building materials or biomass, and generates income for Killerton. Occasionally benches and fences are made for the estate - take a seat and enjoy the view from the wooden sofa at the top of the Clump.