The established wooded area in the heart of Wichel Fields is known as Wichel Wood and is home to many different species of wildlife living in the trees and undergrowth. The trees have been retained and the roads and housing areas designed around them with a path introduced through the wood to allow public access. New trees and hedgerows have also been planted to expand the existing woodland and provide green corridors down to the canal and wider landscape.
The wood contains two mature oak trees which stand at around 15m tall and have been assessed as high quality with a remaining life expectancy of 40 years.
Some of the trees within the wood that were damaged or nearing end of life have been cut down. Many of the trunks were left and cuts made into them to mirror crevices, cavities and loose bark which are perfect roosting sites for bats.
Drainage ditches running through the wood have been retained and now form part of the drainage system serving the houses and roads. These ditches will carry rainwater into the ponds and will eventually feed into the canal.
