Victory Wood
Welcome to our flagship wood
During the summer of 2004, and after a long search, we found a spectacular site for the flagship Victory Wood near Canterbury in Kent, with wonderful views overlooking the sea and the Isle of Sheppey near the mouth of the Medway where Victory and six other ships were built.
In fact, from the site you would have been able to see these ships sail out on their maiden voyages. After the battle, Nelson's body was also landed nearby before being carried to Greenwich. (See the boat that carried Nelson on his final journey)
It is tremendously exciting both for its historical connections to the Trafalgar story and the sea and for the contribution it will make to the Kentish landscape and natural history.
The site is 141 hectares (350 acres) of arable fields that sit between some spectacular ancient woods called the Blean. This is a really special area of ancient woodland second only in national importance to the New Forest.
These fields were once covered in trees and were only cleared for agriculture after the Second World War. When they are replanted, they will once again join up areas of precious ancient woodland.
We are going to plant more than 100,000 trees on this 335 acre site over the next few years to create 'Victory Wood'!
The Trust has launched a fundraising appeal to raise £2.25 million to make this happen. We are very grateful to everyone who is contributing towards this appeal and particularly John Marston, whose individual gift made the purchase of the site possible.
What is planned for Victory Wood
To find out how the Woodland Trust is planning to create Victory Wood, plans, maps and management plan. More information here
Events at Victory Wood
A ceremonial planting with invited guests and sea cadets took place on the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
A week long schools planting programmes took place in November 2005 and will be repeated for some years for local schools to take part in.
Community planting days took place on 19th and 20th November 2005. Other community planting days will take place in the future.
