News

We are heading towards winter but a good mix of Autumn colours are still to be seen here in the Forest of Dean.
Leaves are falling from the trees and there is a distinct rustling sound underfoot. However it is still possible to get a glimpse of grazing deer and squirrels collecting food for the winter.

What was the Prince of Wales doing in Ross-on-Wye on November 5, 2019? He was introducing the Gilpin 2020 Festival.

The year 2020 represents 250 years since a very influential book was written, establishing tours on the River Wye as the first genuine “staycations” in Britain. Observations on the River Wye was written by the Reverend William Gilpin, an amateur artist from the north who sought out landscapes that he claimed to be “picturesque”, establishing an artistic movement.

Gilpin chose the lower River Wye as the trip that most suited his artistic sensibilities. He wrote his book, including both text and sketches, not realising that it would spark a new fashion in travelling down the River Wye by boat, from Ross to Chepstow. Artists, writers and people as notable as Admirable Nelson took the trip.

There will be events all year commemorating the launch of the book. Watch this space….

After closing it’s doors as the Wyndham Arms Inn three years ago and abandoning it’s historic name, the Inn and the Wyndham name are set to return to Clearwell. After a spell as a guest house called The Clearwell and another spell as Crosswell House the new name is the Wyndham Country Inn.

Many of the buildings we see in Clearwell today are the legacy of a Clearwell girl born Caroline Wyndham. She returned to the village in her later years as Caroline, Dowager Countess of Dunraven.
In the late 1800’s she engaged architect John Middleton and had St Peter’s church and a small cottage hospital built. She helped with building the village school, repairing the village Cross and Well and re-building the Mortuary Chapel. She also restored her childhood home, Clearwell Castle. Many people will therefore welcome the return of her family name to the village.

Nine pairs of Pine Marten from Scotland have been released in remote locations in the Forest of Dean. To keep a track on progress these Pine Marten are wearing radio collars.

Forestry England added that Pine Marten at low density (population) forage on fruit, fungi and a range of prey including grey squirrel.

They are described as elusive and shy animals only having “a few kits each year” – so visitors will need to be very lucky to see them.

The viewpoint at New Fancy has received a well needed trim-up as some of the re-generative vegetation has been cut back. It is currently once again possible to get a glimpse of the Cotswolds if you know which way to look.