Entertainment Swindon

New signage is to be installed across the Longleat Estate as part of a long-term programme to enhance conservation, access and the visitor experience.

With 9,000 acres of rolling countryside and forest around Longleat, near Warminster in Wiltshire, the estate has one of Britain’s leading continuous cover forests where nature, heritage and sustainable forestry work hand in hand.

Sarah Butler, Estate Director, said: “We are committed to safeguarding these woodlands for future generations and as part of a long-term programme we are mapping, promoting, and maintaining dedicated permissive footpaths throughout the most popular woodland areas, including Cannimore, Shearwater, and Southleigh.”

The Longleat Estate features many UK and European champion trees within its collection along with registered historic landscape, Scheduled Ancient Monuments, ancient woodland and all within the Cranbourne Chase National Landscape Area, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

It is also home to a number of native species such as roe deer, hare, snakes, lizards, frogs and toads through to plants like orchids, mosses and lichens.

However, at times the estate experiences damaging unofficial bike trails, flytipping, and fire risks from campfires and BBQs which disturb the natural habitats.

Sarah said: “The estate has a long history of encouraging and facilitating responsible permissive access and we want people to enjoy this beautiful and productive Forest, where nature, heritage and sustainable forestry come together.

“The aim of the dedicated permissive access routes is to enhance the existing public rights of way and we are asking people to follow the marked paths and respect seasonal and forestry operation restrictions.

“Together we can ensure the forest is protected for the future by keeping dogs on leads to avoid disturbance to wildlife habitats and by following the Countryside Code and leaving gates as they are found, taking litter home and being considerate to others.

“These woodlands are for everyone’s enjoyment, whether you’re walking, watching wildlife, or simply soaking in the peace of the forest.

“We want to work with people to make it a pleasant and safe place for all. Our aim from this project is to ensure people to feel welcome and able to make enjoyable fun memories with their families safely as well as protecting and preserving the native wildlife and eco-systems which exist.”

Marked trails with welcome signs and maps will be installed as part of the project in Cannimore, Shearwater and Southleigh woods.