about the wood

Visitors to the wood will have noticed that some conservation work has been carried out over the winter. It seems appropriate at this time to explain the current situation regarding the wood and the surrounding arable land.

Firstly, some important milestones have been reached and are worthy of note:

In 2001 Sharphill wood was designated as a “site of importance for nature conservation” (SINC) and noted as a “mature, mixed deciduous woodland of botanical and zoological interest”.

In 2009 Nottinghamshire County Council recognised the footpaths leading to, and within, the wood as legal rights of way for pedestrian access.

Old maps of the hill

From old maps of the area its clear that Sharphill Wood is not ancient. The Chapman chart of 1774 does not show any trees there at all, although this might be because we're reading the map too literally.

A hundred and eighty years ago the wood was called "Sharps Wood".

Chapmans map 1774

The Sanderson map of 1835 shows the Loughborough Turnpike road, now the A60, but only a scattering of trees. One of them is called 'Hill Covert' which suggests it was set aside for fox hunting.

Sandersons Map 1835