Swing Meadow is a lush hay meadow in fantastic location, enjoying panoramic views over the Severn Estuary and Cotswold escarpment beyond. Situated just outside the village of Blakeney in the Forest of Dean, the land occupies an elevated position on Stretfield Hill which allow for the wonderful vistas. With mature hedgerows and established woodland close by, the land is ideally suited to woodland creation.

The land is accessed via a well stoned track from the A48 which enables year-round vehicular access to the meadow. After heading down the track and across the concrete ford, keeping going until the very end at which point the entrance to Swing Meadow is on your left hand side, where an area of hardstanding allows for vehicles to be parked. From here, the meadow takes a broadly square shape as you look up the hill, with vibrant hedgerows punctuated by mature trees bordering the land to the south, west and north. The southern boundary where the entrance is found is demarcated by field stakes.

The highest point of the meadow is in the south west corner, from which truly awesome views can be enjoyed. From here, the land drops away gently in both a northerly and easterly direction. Towards the northern boundary a flatter section of the meadow can be found. The land has been used for agricultural purposes historically as a part of The Hawfield Estate, a grand 16th Century House with extensive grounds. Cattle used to graze the land after which cuts of hay have been taken in recent years. There is now a rich abundance of wildlife in the area, with rabbits, deer and badger a regular site in the surrounding area. The towering oak trees in the boundary of Swing Meadow make for an imposing backdrop to the land.

The land now presents as a great opportunity for a new owner to diversify the land either for personal amenity or carbon offsetting purposes. There are a host of grants available for tree planting which will often cover all the costs of tree stock, guards and stakes which are available from central government via The Forestry Commission, The Woodland Trust and County Wildlife Trusts. The chance to extend existing woodland in the area to create new wildlife corridors and increase carbon sequestration is really exciting.

The wider local area is of course awash with woodland, with the Forest of Dean having its origins as a royal forest pre-dating the Norman Conquest of 1066. Historically used as a royal hunting ground and a source of timber and food, it now is largely managed by The Forestry Commission with wide ranging public access allowing public enjoyment of the woodland. Swing Meadow itself is entirely private with no public rights of way across it.