Pontesford Hill

Tree Planting in Shropshire at Pontesford Hill

Pontesford Hill is a nature reserve currently managed by Shropshire Wildlife Trust with volunteers from the local community and The Friends of Pontesford Hill.

IMPORTANT VISITOR INFO – Take only photos. Leave only footsteps.

To keep the woodland as natural as possible we don’t label individual trees and we ask that visitors do not place their own plaques, labels, flowers, etc in the woodland. Each tree we plant should be seen as part of a natural woodland.

Before visiting this woodland, please read our Frequently Asked Questions page, which gives you helpful tips about your tree and visitor guidance.

The woodland at Pontesford Hill was owned by the Forestry Commission and planted with larch and other conifers in the 1950s and 60s.

It had previously been grazing land with some self-seeded sycamore and planted beech on the lower slopes.

Over the last 70 years self seeded trees have turned this into mixed woodland but poor in native species. The variety of native UK species that are now being planted here will help improve the biodiversity of the area and provide food and a haven for wildlife.

The former owner had development aims for the woodland that were opposed by the local community. He offered it for sale when he realised the community were so passionate about the hill and his development aims were going to be opposed.

A campaign to buy the hill was supported by many locals and people from around the country who had a family association with the area.

'The Friends of Pontesford Hill' raised more than the required amount and Pontesford Hill was bought and transferred to Shropshire Wildlife Trust to manage for the benefit of wildlife and local people.

As part of the current management part of the Hill has been divided into coupes to be coppiced over 14 to 20 years to create an area of coppice woodland planted up with suitable native trees.

Photo Gallery

Tree Species at Pontesford Hill

Since 2020 EFORESTS has worked with the land owners and local volunteers to plant 510 new native tree species.

The following tree species were planted on the site:

IMPORTANT VISITOR INFO – Take only photos. Leave only footsteps.

To keep the woodland as natural as possible we don’t label individual trees and we ask that visitors do not place their own plaques, labels, flowers, etc in the woodland. Each tree we plant should be seen as part of a natural woodland.

Before visiting this woodland, please read our Frequently Asked Questions page, which gives you helpful tips about your tree and visitor guidance.

Dedicate a tree to be planted in Shropshire or elsewhere in the UK.