THE new owner of a popular ancient wood in Ross-on-Wye says he wants to work with the community to help it thrive as a local resource.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust recently agreed to sell Merrivale Wood south of the town to local farmers, father and son Simon and George Cutter, after an attempt by a local community group to raise the £90,000 asking price fell through.

Simon Cutter said that they had met with the recently formed Merrivale Wood Conservation Group and said there are now opportunities for mapping, surveying, tree planting and added: ‘We will be low-key owners. We see our role as facilitating things, not telling people what to do.”

While there is a public right of way around the wood, access within it is by permitted access, which will remain, Mr Cutter said, adding that enabling mountain biking to continue in the wood should also be possible.

He also views the wood as an investment, saying: “Trees grow, and there will be more of them in 50 years’ time.

“But they need managing, and coppicing by cyclically cutting trees down to their base and allowing them to regrow, which was previously carried out in some areas, and is better for nature.”

This would in effect carry over the family’s wildlife-friendly approach taken on its award-winning organic livestock farm nearby, he explained.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s chief executive Jamie Audsley said: “While Merrivale Wood lies outside of the key nature recovery landscapes on which the trust must focus, it remains a fantastic resource for the local community and we were very pleased to find a buyer whose values are aligned with our own and who will manage the site for wildlife, and for people.

“We look forward to working with Mr Cutter and Merrivale Wood Conservation Group to ensure a smooth handover of the management of the site.”