We have featured a number of articles about the Woodland Trust’s Centenary Wood  over the past two years but, with it being close to Remembrance Day, felt  that the time was right for an update.

In 2014 the Woodland Trust, UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, acquired over 600 acres of land as part of its First World War Centenary project to establish woodland areas in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to remember the millions of lives lost during that conflict. Since then many volunteers have already planted over 180,000 trees.

The woods combine planted forest with open arable and grazing land to encourage wildlife as well as plant life. 59 species of birds have been recorded on the site including red kite and tawny owls. Animals spotted in the woods include five species of bat, yellow necked mouse, and bank vole.

But what makes this woodland unique is its links to World War One. There are three features within the woods that commemorate the lives of those who died in WW1. The first is the Regiment of Trees. Stone soldiers stand in a grid of 80 trees representing the day that Lord Kitchener inspected 20,000 troops on Epsom Downs in 1915. The stone soldiers were carved from Sandstone by Patrick Walls.

Next to the Regiment of Trees a sculpture by John Merrill is made from 40 tons of Oak and standing six metres high it is based on Paul Nash’s paintings of devastated trees from WW1. It comprises nine uprights that have been engraved with poems from the war and provides a quiet place to sit and reflect on the atrocity of war.

And not far away from them both is the Battle of Jutland Memorial Wood planted with 6,097 saplings representing the number of sailors lives lost in the 1916 sea battle. There are also 14 huge oak portholes to remember the warships lost during this battle.

You can walk to the Wood from Epsom Downs but it’s quite a trek. Since our first article in 2021, a car park has recently been completed with access from Headley Road. It took over a year to build and provides parking for 70 vehicles (if you are electric there are also 14 charging points). It costs £2 for two hours or £5 for the day.

Another new arrival is Poppies Play Area for children under 12. There is a swing, a slide and plenty of climbing on offer.

The Woodland Trust have established four centenary woods, one each in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ours is by far the largest and most spectacular. It is well worth a visit.