Hoppers Lane Wood occupies land at the heart of the village of Stretton-on-Fosse that was used as pasture until the 1970s. Following the cessation of farming, shrubs and trees gradually colonised. Today, Hoppers Lane Wood is a young woodland, dominated by ash and sycamore trees. Given the relative scarcity of woodland in the surrounding landscape, Hoppers Lane Wood serves as an important refuge for woodland wildlife. Red kites, tawny owls, great spotted woodpeckers and nuthatches are regularly seen, and in spring the woodland is filled with birdsong. Mammals such as hedgehogs, foxes, bats and muntjac deer are also present, and a growing list of plant and insect species has been recorded.The position of the wood right at the heart of the village, close to the Plough Inn and Village Hall provides a valuable, nature-filled green space for village residents: a quiet place to sit during heatwaves, and for children to build dens and hunt for bugs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognising the ecological and community value of Hoppers Lane Wood, the Hoppers Lane Wood Trust charity was set up in 2025. With generous support of village residents and the previous owners of the Wood, the Trust successfully raised funds to purchase the Wood and place it in trust for the benefit of the village, with an official opening event in April 2026.The Trustees and Biodiversity Group have embarked on a programme of habitat management, supported in part by a grant from Stratford-upon-Avon District Council’s Community Climate and Nature Fund. Trees have been thinned, and dominant bramble and ivy removed, across sections of the site. A sunny woodland glade has been created, complete with a bench for visitors. To diversify the woodland, a variety of trees (oak, small-leaved lime and wild cherry) have been planted, as well as bulbs and seedlings of native woodland wildflowers such as bluebells, wild garlic and primroses. These species are typical of ancient woodlands in the wider area, and without a seed bank would struggle to establish naturally.

 

 

To ensure that local residents can enjoy and appreciate the woodland, pedestrian access has been established via a pathway that loops through the site. This path, accessible from Hoppers Lane, allows visitors to explore the woodland and observe its wildlife and seasonal changes. Visitors enter at their own risk and are asked to stay on the pathways and to keep dogs on a lead.

​

Click here to read more about the village's biodiversity group