Places to see birds

Savernake Forest, Marlborough

Savernake Forest, lying between Marlborough and Hungerford, is privately-owned by the Earl of Cardigan and his family Trustees. It extends to some 4,500 acres, and is the only privately-owned Forest in Britain. Much of its timber rights are leased to the Forestry Commission. Running right through the middle of the Forest is Capability Brown's 'Grand Avenue'. This avenue of beech trees - now a Private Road - was laid out in the late 1790's, and at just over 4 miles long it stands in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest Avenue in Britain.


Savernake Estate Office
Savernake Forest
Marlborough
Wilts SN8 3HP
Tel. 01672 810302
savernakeestate@hotmail.com

No-one can say how old Savernake Forest is. It cannot be less than 1,000 years old as it is referred to in a Saxon Charter from King Athelstan in 934AD, being called "Safernoc". The high-water mark of the Savernake Estate's fortunes was undoubtedly in Elisabethan times. The head of the family (Sir John Seymour) was used to welcoming King Henry VIII to the Forest, where the King was very keen on his deer-hunting. King Henry stayed at Savernake shortly after the execution of Queen Anne Boleyn in 1536, and his eye was then taken by his host's daughter, Jane. They were subsequently married, and Jane Seymour was crowned Queen just months later, causing the head of the family at Savernake to suddenly find himself father-in-law to Henry VIII.
Though Savernake's high scientific status is primarily related to its rare lichens and fungi, visitors may encounter a wide variety of other rare wildlife. Bird residents of the Forest include Hawfinches, Redstarts, Nightjars, Woodpeckers, Crossbills, and Nightingales. As well as numerous Owls, all the main British birds of prey are present, especially Sparrowhawks, Buzzards and Kestrels. Recently a pair of rare Red Kites have been seen. Anyone who has driven through the forest must have seen the "Big Belly Tree". This is an oak tree that is believed to be 1000 yrs old. More recently, in June 2004, a big cat was supposedly sighted