Forest of Dean - Clearwell (Stock Wood)

Nearest town: Coleford

Site type: woodland

Access: Public

Church name: No Data

Diocese: No Data

County: Gloucestershire

Country: England

Grid ref: SO57540834

Lost yew site: No

Date visited: 6-Apr-13

Recorded by: Tim Hills

Protection & responsibility: Forestry Commission

Yews recorded at this site: Notable

Notes: In 1913 Arthur O.Cooke wrote of the scowles at Dean Pool Farm as follows: The path was 'blocked by the fallen branch of a great yew. These yews which shroud the place beneath their shadows have strange ghostly and disturbing shapes. Their roots sometimes lie naked to the view for many feet from where they leave the stem; the earth that covered them has slipped away'. Now known as the Secret Forest, it is only two hundred yards from the entrance to Clearwell Caves. It is in private ownership and there is an entrance fee. These shallow mines are known locally as scowles, and there are several in this area, though most are too dangerous to fully explore. At Secret Forest many old wild yews can be viewed in safety. For more information go to www.secretforest.co.uk