Alistair's Wood

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Alistair's Wood is a community woodland planted in March 2003. Formerly part of the Dog Lount Mine opencast coal mining site the land was restored to agricultural production in the late 1940's. This 34 hectare wood has now been planted with native broadleaf species such as oak, ash and birch to complement the mature hedgerow and roadside trees already present making it a peaceful place in which families can walk. Avenues of fruit and nut trees have also been planted including apple, pear and walnut providing colour all year round.

As well as woodland, there is also a stream, wetland and an area of acid neutral grassland, Lount Meadows, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of the rarity of this habitat in Leicestershire.

A leaflet containing a map of the site is available to download as a pdf here.

How to get there:

Alistair's Wood is part of The National Forest. Ashby de la Zouch is the nearest town or village.

Pedestrian access only off the B587 North East of Ashby de la Zouch. Access also via a permissive path from the Southern end of Jaguar Lount Wood.

Nearest postcode is LE65 1SB.

OS Grid Reference: SK 376 189
For details of public transport visit http://www.transportdirect.info

Other places to go in The National Forest

Please tell us about your visit

Please email us at info_nationalforest@forestry.gsi.gov.uk if you have an enquiry or would like a reply to your comments.

Parkland planting showing deer and rabbit protection, Alistair's wood, The National Forest

Facilities and Activities

Mown grass pathways lead walkers around the wood but access to the SSSI grassland is restricted. The Ivanhoe Way also passes through the top section of the wood - see OS Explorer Map 245 for details.

An extension to the surfaced trail takes you from Alistair's Wood along the disused railway through Lount Wood into the entrance at Jaguar Lount Wood where it joins with a 3km surfaced cycle track which passes through Jaguar Lount Wood and exiting at Bignall's Wood (opposite Staunton Harold Garden Centre). For more infomation see related pages in the right hand menu

A public bridleway passes through Alistair's Wood - see OS Explorer Map 245 for details.

Contact:

National Forest
01889 586593
e-mail: info_nationalforest@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

A free leaflet covering Alistair's, Bignall's and Jaguar Lount Woods, including a map of the paths, is available from the Forestry Commission, via the contact given at the bottom of the page. It can also be downloaded via the link in the 'About Alistair's Wood' section on this page.