Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2013 | Page 52

COUNTRY LIFE

Martin's Wood delight
Gift to Nature is responsible for a variety of conservation sites
around the Island, it is their mission to not only care for the
Island’s wildlife but encourage everyone to get out and explore
our fantastic countryside.

In the last issue of Island Life you
will recall our article on the amazing
bee conservation work in Newchurch,
thanks to the Boswell family. This
month we give you the bigger picture.
The bee project is in fact a part of a
much larger environmental project –
Martin’s Wood.
Named after Martin Boswell who
farmed at Newchurch for 40 years,
Martin’s Wood is a testament to his
vision of a working, beautiful and
bio-diverse landscape.
The land that became Martin’s
52

www.visitislandlife.com

Wood was for many
years intensively farmed
for sweetcorn, only
ceasing in the late 1990s.
Martin Boswell, always
an innovator, conceived
the idea of using the land
to connect the ancient
woodland at Hill Farm
in the south with that at
Parsonage Farm to the
north. With the help of
the Forestry Commission,
in 2001, Martin’s Wood
became a reality.
Over 7,000 trees were
planted: hazel, birc h,
cherry, oak, ash, field
maple, scots pine, spindle
and guelder rose, all native
species that provide food
and shelter for wildlife.
Sadly Martin Boswell
passed away in September
2012, but the area continues to be
shared with everyone and at Martin’s
request the permissive footpaths first
granted by him in 2001 remain within
it.
The story of Martin’s Wood is an
inspiring one and Martin’s legacy will
last for many years to come. The wood
is still young but already a source of
delight to all who visit and a site of
national importance for its wildlife.
It is a remarkable place, created by a
remarkable man.

You can get to Martin’s Wood via
footpath NC12 from the bottom of
the Shute or from the village car park,
across the Newchurch Parish Sports
and Community Association field.
The paths around the wood are
permissive and access is granted by the
landowner, Norah Boswell.