Woodland for sale

The most striking feature of this beautiful level area of woodland is the great diversity that it offers for both the owner and resident wildlife. A mixed canopy of oak, cherry and birch give way to grassy areas on well drained ground that support numerous species of woodland insects and woodland flowers. A deep ditch holding seasonal water beneath the shade of some veteran oak and beech provides a watery haven for moisture loving plants and forms a distinct boundary at the wood's northern edge.

This type of varied habitat provides the important beginnings of the woodland food chain, as the grassy areas attract a range of butterfly caterpillars which feed on the grasses and in turn become tempting treats for indigenous birds. Deer are also at ease in this environment, able to browse in relative seclusion in the wider woodland area that surrounds Flittern Wood. Foxes and badgers can enjoy the abundant insects and rodents that populate this fertile ground and their trails are evident winding between the trees.

Trees

Further into the interior a variety of broadleaf species dominate. There are fine examples of oak, beech, cherry and an unusually tall holly specimen. The wood takes its name from the word flittern; an old and largely obsolete term for the bark of a young oak tree.

Access, tracks and footpaths

A newly renovated access track runs directly to the entrance to Flittern Wood and once within the wood there is plenty of space to park. A restricted byway passes along the northern edge of the wood and a bridleway runs along the access track. This woodland forms part of an area of registered common land which has a general right of access as open access land. There are no commoners’ rights registered on the land for any other purpose and Flittern Wood therefore enjoys all the rights of ownership of freehold title.

Rights and covenants

As is the case for all our woodlands, the purchaser will be asked to enter into a covenant which serves to protect the peace and quiet of the woodland.

Local area and history

Flittern Wood lies within a stunning area of countryside that has inspired the literary imagination for generations of writers. Dickens himself deems the village of Clifton Hampden worthy of a mention in his 1885 'History of the River Thames'. The village and The Barley Mow pub also featured in Jerome K. Jerome's book Three Men in a Boat, and in the book Jerome describes Clifton Hampden as 'a wonderfully pretty village, old-fashioned, peaceful, and dainty with flowers'. He describes The Barley Mow as "without exception the quaintest, most old-world inn up the river (standing) on the right of the bridge, quite away from the village.