Intake Wood

Intake Wood lies within the heart of the historic Sherwood Forest area, with the land originally forming part of the medieval Royal Hunting Forest. 

At that time traditional habitats would have been a mix of heathland, acid grassland and scrub with areas of oak birch woodland. 

Since the 20th Century the landscape of Sherwood has changed dramatically and this is very evident in Intake Wood which was used as a commercial forestry plantation.

The underlying soils are created from the Triassic Sherwood Sandstones of the region and are nutrient poor, pebbly and free draining. 

Until 2002 Intake Wood was under private ownership. Once development of the Cavendish Way was completed in 2006 ownership of the wood was transferred from Bovis Homes to Newark and Sherwood District Council.

A Tree Preservation Order is placed on the whole of Intake Wood.

Habitat management

Intake wood covers almost 13 hectares comprising of mostly commercial pine (Scots and Corsican) with small pockets of semi-natural broadleaf trees including oak and birch.

The aim for the site is a slow reversion to native oak-birch woodland with areas of heathland regeneration along the wayleaves and rides.

We have recently commissioned EMEC Ecology to appraise the wood and produce a 10 year Habitat Management Plan. The draft plan will be available for consultation in spring 2021.

The plan will involve partitioning the wood and thinning / removing the pine, slowly reverting the site to native oak-birch. We will aim to maintain a mosaic of woodland habitats and glades, create standing deadwood habitats and manage the wayleaves as heathland and acid grassland.

We will create supplementary habitats for local wildlife including installing bat and bird boxes and create areas of bare ground for bees, butterflies and burrowing insects.

The plan will include community involvement and we will provide opportunities for locals to get involved with volunteer task days. Hopefully there will be enough local interest and involvement to form a 'Friends of Intake Wood' group. 

It is proposed that Intake Wood be designated as a Local Nature Reserve as soon as the new habitat management plan has been adopted.

Get involved

We are encouraging community involvement with the wood and in doing so we hope to increase local people's awareness and enjoyment of the site.

There are opportunities for scrub bashing and removing invasive species including Himalayan Balsam. There are also opportunities to plant hedges and trees and create wildlife habitats as well as monitoring and surveying local wildlife.

To register your interest, contact Park Ranger Issac Thorn: 

Email: isaac.thorn@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk

Junior Rangers

We offer a forest school featuring a fun outdoor learning programme for children aged five to ten. It’s available in our parks in Newark, Ollerton and Clipstone.

Park rules

Help us prevent fire, litter and wildlife damage. BBQ's, campfires and fireworks are not permitted in the park.

Sky lanterns and helium balloon releases are now banned in our council parks.

Park rangers undertake regular inspections and litter picking in the wood. We ask that walkers please take their litter home or use the litter bin at the park entrances.

Also if anyone sees motorbikes or quad bikes in the wood please report this to the local Clipstone police using 101.