The Alder Bed area is not listed as ancient woodland, but was probably managed as a water meadow in the past. It is thought that the alder bed was planted, or regenerated naturally, in the late eighteenth century in order to be managed as coppice woodland.

Owner: East Dorset District Council

Managed by: East Dorset Countryside Management Service

Site designation:

• Local Nature Reserve

Grid reference: SU 076 025

Nearest town: West Moors

Size (Ha): 12.1 Ha

Nearest bus stop: bus stops on Station Road, Wilts and Dorset bus route numbers X36, 134, 135

Nearest train station: Poole (11 miles)

Parking: no parking area

Accessibility: un-surfaced narrow paths

Facilities: dog bins at entrances to site

Habitats: coppiced woodland with hazel, birch and ash flourishing under the mature oaks and dense stands of alder in the wetter areas.

Look out for: the woodland supports dozens of bird species, a vibrant flush of wild flowers, deer and badger populations

How to get there:

From West Moors village centre, follow Station Road north, turn left onto Farm Road (by the doctor's surgery) and follow the road round to Birch Grove on the left. Penningtons Copse main entrance is off the mown patch of amenity grass.

From Three-Legged Cross direction, follow signs to West Moors, along West Moors Road (B3072) and Station Road. Turn right onto Farm Road (by the doctor's surgery), follow the road round to Birch Grove on your left, and Penningtons Copse main entrance is across the grassed area.

Management plan:

Penningtons Copse had previously become overgrown with rhododendron through lack of management, and so the past 10 years of management have concentrated on removing this invasive species. The rhododendron is now more or less under control, and so we are turning our attentions to continuing with the historical coppice management of the Alder Bed, and re-planting the under storey of the copse with hazel, ash and rowan.

The area inside the entrance from Birch Grove has been fenced to protect the new planting that took place in that area. In all nearly one thousand trees were planted and it is hoped they will grow into the next generation of coppice. The replanting was deemed necessary as a result of the woodland floor being covered in rhododendron for so long.

Coppicing of alder within Alder Bed has been re-introduced to allow light to the woodland floor to allow a greater diversity of flora and fauna to flourish. Areas of hazel along the main footpath have also been coppiced to prevent encroachment onto the path and into neighbouring gardens.

If you would like to find out more about future management plans for Penningtons Copse, please contact the Matt Reeks at Moors Valley Country Park on 01425 470721, or e-mail mreeks@eastdorset.gov.uk