The area now known as Potterne Wood can be seen on old tithe maps dating back to 1819, and was previously called 'Toads Cove Coppice'. This old name provides a good indication of the wet woodland habitat and established coppice management which is still very much evident today. The present name of Potterne Wood was presumably given during the height of the Verwood pottery trade, when the local potters would have used coppice materials from the wood to fire the pottery kilns.

Potterne Wood has an excellent gravel surfaced footpath suitable for walkers, cyclists and disabled access, which connects with the footpaths leading through Moors Valley Country Park and Ringwood Forest, and to Potterne playing fields.

Owner: East Dorset District Council

Managed by: East Dorset Countryside Management Service

Site designation:

• Local Nature Reserve
• Site of Nature Conservation Interest

Grid reference: SU 010 074

Nearest town: Verwood

Size (Ha): 13 Ha

Nearest bus stop: Lake Road, Wilts and Dorset bus route

Nearest train station: Bournemouth (15 miles)

Habitats: Mixed woodland

Look out for: Potterne Wood contains a particularly high incidence of 'Dorset Notable' species - plants that are either rare or declining locally - such as Sweet Woodruff, Yellow Loosestrife and Marsh Valerian. The wettest areas of the wood are the most important ecologically, and are a haven for wildlife undisturbed by visitors due to the boggy ground. These conditions have afforded Potterne Wood the designation of Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) by the Dorset Wildlife Trust.

Parking: Potterne Playing Fields

Accessibility: Level and well surfaced gravel tracks

Facilities: dog bins at entrances to site and benches around the circular walk

How to get there:

Local residents can access Potterne Wood through a footpath from Hazelwood Drive, or through Potterne Playing Fields. You are also welcome to park at Moors Valley Country Park (car parking charges apply) and follow tarmac footpaths to Potterne Wood.

Management plan:

Potterne Wood has recently been returned to active management. Coppicing has been reintroduced to the wet alder bed, some areas of holly have been cleared, and new benches have been installed along the main footpath to enable visitors to rest their weary legs!

The Rangers have secured the continued future management of Potterne Wood through the support of a Woodland Grant Scheme. This will enable us to push forward with the next few years of conservation works, and continue to improve the quality of the woodland for local people and wildlife. 

Recent works have included the thinning of some of the dense areas of Scots Pine and continued clearance of the Holly.

With the assistance from the Dorset Interim Planning Framework Mitigation Fund, works to improve path access throughout the woodland, create a new permissive horse route and provide a link to Ringwood Forest have been completed.

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