Kingsettle Stroll 1 Traditional Cache

_{The 1st in a series of 10 caches on a lovely walk to, and around Kingsettle Wood.}

Kingsettle Wood was acquired by the Woodland Trust in 1985, and is an ancient woodland site of 51.5 acres lying within the Cranbourne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs Area of Natural Beauty.

The wood formed part of the eastern reaches of Gillingham Forest, subject to forest laws, until forest status was discarded ('disafforestation') in 1628. In the late 1960's and early 1970's the wood was largely planted with Douglas Fir and Norway spruce in the lower reache and with beech & Scots pine above. The Woodland Trust are currently undertaking a large project to restore the native broadleaf character to the wood by removing a lot of the non native species. You will see this while walking around the wood, most of the trees to be felled have an orange paint mark on them.

Within the areas already thinned, the increase in light levels has already resulted in the regeneration of shrubs, herbs & trees formerly suppressed.

Kingsettle is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) due to its historically rich ground flora, including notable species such as Pignut, Yellow Archangel & Wood Sorrel.

Keep your eyes peeled for the abundant wildlife also. Kingsettle is home to Roe Deer, Badgers, Foxes, Voles, Woodmice, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, Tawny Owls, Nuthatches and Goldcrests. The Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler & Blackcap regularly adopt the wood in summer, while the Woodcock adopts it in winter.

_{Cache is a camo Bison tube, containing log only.}