Views sought on plans for new 300-acre woodland

People have been asked to share their thoughts about plans for a new woodland.

Forestry England said the new woodland, called Fishleigh Wood, would span 334 acres (135 hectares) of land it had recently bought near Hatherleigh.

Kevin Stannard, west director for Forestry England, said the new woodlands being created in Devon would help connect habitat, create more space for nature and make it easier for wildlife to travel through.

A drop-in session is set to take place at Hatherleigh Community Centre on 21 July where people will be able to see draft designs and speak to Forestry England members and a public consultation is set to close on 2 August.

Forestry England said Fishleigh Wood would form part of its wider effort to increase woodland across England and would be the fifth new woodland it had announced for Devon since 2024.

It said the wood would have a "diverse mix of tree and shrub species" to help create habitats to support hazel dormice, otters, amphibians and insects, as well as birds and bats.

Stannard said: "We've carried out careful surveys of the land at Fishleigh, and we've used the latest climate science to help tell us which tree species will thrive in the area, both now and as the climate changes."

He encouraged anyone with an interest to share their view because they would "make a difference to how this woodland takes shape."

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.