This wood is a classic of the English countryside where spring bluebells carpet the ground beneath towering oak. There are parts of the woodland that include some hazel and birch but in the main Kingcombe Copse is a celebration of the oak tree and the longevity and continuity that has long been associated with this emblem of the our rural heritage. These well established trees can now be encouraged to continue to full maturity and continue to sustain an important rural ecosystem.

The surrounding land is under the protection of The Dorset Wildlife Trust and as such the numerous woodland species that live here have enjoyed a stable environment beyond the invasive practices of modern agriculture. It is perhaps for this reason that there is much evidence of elusive woodland creatures thriving in Kingcombe Copse. Numerous animal trails cross the forest floor and the gnarled bark of the established oak trees provide perfect nesting for birds of prey, stoat and weasel.

Roe deer are a common sight browsing between the trees amidst the cover of the bracken. The dramatic spectacle of a large roe buck with antlers aloft crashing through the undergrowth is sure to get the heart racing.

Hidden beneath the ground here is the secret history of Kingcombe Copse. It is what you cannot see for part of the year that tells us something of the history of this woodland. For buried beneath the soil the roots and bulbs of delicate woodland plants indicate this as an ancient woodland site.

Bluebells in particular can take a long time to establish in heavy soils and the dramatic purple blue haze of spring at Kingcombe Copse has taken many generation to establish. Dog mercury and wood sorrel in the field layer also indicate that this fragile relationship of earth, light and shelter has been undisturbed in modern times and sensitive planting of predominantly oak has been done with a sensitivity that has not compromised this delicate habitat.

A broad woodland track behind a secure gated access leads to the entrance to Kingcombe Copse.

There are no public footpaths along the boundaries or through this wood.

Kingcombe Copse occupies a most peaceful setting, located deep within the gently rolling hills of West Dorset where the agricultural downlands descend gradually towards the Jurassic coastline of the English Channel. The area is relatively sparsely populated, made up principally of small rural communities, such as the nearby villages of Higher and Lower Kingcombe, served by the larger towns of Crewkerne to the north and Dorchester equidistant to the South.