The trees have thrived in this fertile ground and now form a strong, mixed-species canopy, including birch, oak, willow, sycamore and beech.

There is potential to thin the denser areas of woodland, subject to a thinning licence from the Forestry Commission. This management could provide a sustainable source of firewood while enhancing the long-term health of the woodland.

Penrest Wood is regularly home to deer, badgers and foxes, often glimpsed moving quietly through the trees at dawn and dusk. The woodland also supports a rich variety of birdlife, from the soft evening call of tawny owls and the circling presence of buzzards overhead, to the constant activity of smaller songbirds such as great tits and long-tailed tits among the branches.

Scattered through good-sized clearings are a number of older beech trees, their broad canopies creating open, light-filled spaces within the woodland.

An old path runs from north to south near the eastern edge of the wood, hinting at its past. It may once have served as an historic route to the old quarry in a neighbouring woodland, or perhaps as a timber extraction track, worn into the landscape over time.

Along the eastern boundary, a traditional hedge bank remains, further marking the woodland’s long-standing relationship with the surrounding land.

Access is via a well-made private track from the A395, used exclusively by the woodland owners and the occupants of Westdownend Farm. This leads into the woodland, where a stoned forestry track provides good internal access to the western side of the wood and the shared parking area.

There are no public rights of way through the woodland, allowing for a quiet and undisturbed setting.

Such is the importance of this natural environment that it is protected by a local authority Tree Preservation Order, recognising its value as an important area of woodland and helping to ensure its long-term future.

This designation does not prevent appropriate woodland management. Instead, it encourages best-practice stewardship, with guidance and support readily available from the local Forestry Commission representative or the Local Authority Tree Officer.

As is the case for all our woodlands, the purchaser will be asked to enter into a covenant which serves to protect the peace and quiet of the woodland.

Penrest Wood can be enjoyed by all generations, offering opportunities for small-scale forestry projects alongside quiet appreciation of its wildlife, made possible by its excellent access and level topography.

This natural habitat also lends itself to use as a restorative outdoor space — a place to slow down, reconnect with nature and nurture wellbeing. Forest bathing, woodland yoga and meditation could all be practised here, surrounded by the calm and shelter of the trees.

Having once formed part of the Tregeare Estate, the surrounding area of Penrest Wood is steeped in history. An earthworks at nearby Tregearedown Beacon dates back to the Iron Age. There are records of Tregeare as a surname in this area as far back as 1284 formed from the Cornish word for dwelling (tre) and fort, or castle town (caer).

Nearby Tregeare House was built in the late 1700s by Joseph Baron, a family that had lived in the nearby village of Egloskerry (Cornish for ‘Church of Keri). This village was once given away by the first Norman King of England, William the Conqueror, to his half brother Robert Moreton, the Earl of Cornwall.

Penrest Wood is well located with easy access to the stunning north Cornish coast with the surfing beaches of Crackington Haven and Widemouth within a half hour drive. The coastal town of Bude has two magnificent beaches. The fishing port of Boscastle is another great place to visit and here you can also visit the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.

Particulars and plans were prepared by our local manager, Stuart Brooking.