Priors Copse

Wood, Forest in Wiltshire

England

Priors Copse

Modern Milestone, Chippenham Without Opposite a petrol station on the A420, Bristol Road.
This is a replacement for the old milestone
see <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6072414">ST8974 : Old Milestone by the A420, Bristol Road, west of Chippenham</a> sometime between April 2021 &amp; October 2021.

Inscription: 7 Miles / To / Marshfield / 2 miles / To / Chippenham

Milestone Society National ID: WI_CPMF02 R — Modern Milestone, Chippenham Without Credit: Mr Red

Priors Copse is a picturesque wood located in the county of Wiltshire, England. Covering an area of approximately 50 acres, it is renowned for its natural beauty and diverse range of flora and fauna. The wood is situated on the outskirts of the historic market town of Marlborough, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

The dense woodland of Priors Copse is characterized by a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees, including oak, beech, ash, and pine. These towering trees create a canopy that provides shade and shelter for a variety of wildlife species. Visitors to the wood can expect to encounter a plethora of birds, such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, and various songbirds, adding to the enchanting ambiance.

The forest floor of Priors Copse is adorned with a carpet of wildflowers, including bluebells, primroses, and foxgloves, creating a vibrant display throughout the spring and summer months. The wood is also home to a number of small mammals, including badgers, foxes, and squirrels, which can often be spotted scurrying amongst the undergrowth.

Priors Copse offers several walking trails, allowing visitors to explore the wood at their own leisure. The paths wind through the ancient woodland, revealing hidden clearings and peaceful groves. The wood also features a small picnic area, where visitors can relax and enjoy the serenity of their surroundings.

Overall, Priors Copse is a captivating woodland, rich in biodiversity and natural beauty. Whether it be for a leisurely stroll, bird-watching, or simply escaping into nature, this wood provides a haven for nature enthusiasts and offers a welcome respite from the outside world.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Priors Copse Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.460166/-2.1545962 or Grid Reference ST8973. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Modern Milestone, Chippenham Without

Opposite a petrol station on the A420, Bristol Road. This is a replacement for the old milestone see ST8974 : Old Milestone by the A420, Bristol Road, west of Chippenham sometime between April 2021 & October 2021. Inscription: 7 Miles / To / Marshfield / 2 miles / To / Chippenham Milestone Society National ID: WI_CPMF02 R

Mr Red

Old Guide Stone by the A420, Bristol Road, Lanhill

Marshfield iron plate by the A420, in parish of Chippenham Without (North Wiltshire District), Bristol Road, Lanhill at junction with the B4039, on wide grass verge within apex of junction, now near The Long Stone - probably moved when the junction was changed. An earlier photograph can be found here Link. Inscription reads:- : {<-hand} TO MARSHFIELD AND BRISTOL.: : TO {HAND->} / CHIPPENHAM : : {<-HAND} TO / CHIPPENHAM : : TO YATTON KEYNELL, CRITTLETON. / BADMINTON AND SODBURY. {hand->} Carved bench mark and rivet on top of raised section. Grade II listed. List Entry Number: 1283421 Link

Milestone Society National ID: WI_CPMF02S

Kirsty Crew

Electricity near Chippenham

Anthony Parkes

Unused picnic shelter, Allington Farm Shop

Unsurprising on a bitterly cold January lunchtime

Basher Eyre

Stainers Way with cycle path

A segregated cycle path runs right through this housing estate, sometimes next to Stainers Way, sometimes diverging from it.

Stephen Craven

Open space off Stainers Way

When this housing estate at Hardenhuish was built, a generous amount of green space was left between areas of housing.

Stephen Craven

Playground by Stainers Way

Stephen Craven

Link path off Stainers Way

This short, straight section of footpath connects the housing estate to a longer foot and cycle path that runs for 1.3km alongside the Hardenhuish Brook from the ring road to Bristol Road on the outskirts of the town centre.

Stephen Craven

The stone circle on Redwing Avenue

I wondered whether this structure in a modern housing estate might be formed from parts of some historic house that once stood on the site, but a local person explained that the show houses for the estate were close by, and this was part of the developer's promotional work.

Stephen Craven

Cycleway off Hardenhuish Lane

Part of a longer foot and cycle path that runs for 1.3km alongside the Hardenhuish Brook from the ring road to Bristol Road on the outskirts of the town centre.

Stephen Craven

Sheldon School, Chippenham

A view through the gates at the rear entrance on Hardenhuish Lane. The school, originally for boys only, is now a co-educational comprehensive and claims to be the largest school in Wiltshire.

Stephen Craven

The Hardenhuish Brook

Probably never much of a watercourse at the best of times, but with only a trickle of a flow in the dry summer of 2022.

Stephen Craven

Cycleway parallel to the Hardenhuish Brook

This foot and cycle path runs for 1.1km alongside the Hardenhuish Brook from Bristol Road on the outskirts of the town centre to Stainers Way, beyond which it continues as a public footpath only, to and beyond the ring road.

Stephen Craven