Clements Wood

Off the main A8 between Belfast and Larne, at the junction with the Ballygowan Road, lies Clements’ Wood. It is owned by the Woodland Trust, which bought the 10 acre site in 2000 from a local farmer, whose grandfather, Clements, once farmed the land. Beside the small parking lay-by, is an interpretive panel with enough information to entice even the casual visitor to explore further. And it is well worth exploring. This little woodland is simply delightful and has unexpected secrets to share, as I discovered during my visit.

I followed the path that leads downwards into the wood, and very quickly I was surrounded by trees and undergrowth. I could hear the sound of running water, but it would be some time before I caught a glimpse of the river. The trees here are largely mature ash and hazel, and doubtless in autumn produce a good crop of keys and nuts respectively. The hazels are multi-stemmed, suggesting that they have been coppiced at one time. This is a practice whereby the trees are cut down to the stump every six or seven years. This stimulates the growth of stout straight branches called poles, which are then harvested for various uses such as thatching struts or rustic furniture.  And to prove my point I found signs of activity where someone had created a hazel seat and some woven hazel fencing – possibly from an event organised by the Woodland Trust. Demonstrating traditional crafts to today’s generation seems like an excellent use of a local nature reserve to me.

The path continues to weave through the closely knit woodland, where the hazel and ash are joined by recently planted rowans and pines. As I walked, I caught glimpses of birdlife, including a pair of bullfinches moving elusively from branch to branch and house martins flying overhead; I passed small white and speckled wood butterflies basking in the summer sunshine; and I had to be careful not to trample the herb Robert, Lords and Ladies and the other wild flowers growing by the narrow path. Above the ever present rushing of the river were the sounds of birdsong, cows in the neighbouring fields and, in the distance, the traffic on the A8. Eventually I stumbled upon the Inver River, which, on this site at least, seemed in a hurry to get to Larne. The flow at this point was too fast I suspect even for dippers.

A short distance farther on I came across an area designated as Royal Oak Grove, where 600 oaks had been planted by schoolchildren in 2004. The trees had been grown from acorns collected at Glamis Castle, the Queen Mother’s former home in Scotland. These trees will provide a fitting and lasting tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and will enhance Clements’ Wood for generations to come. I noticed some of the young oaks have already been infested with galls, which are common enough in Northern Ireland, but thankfully cause the trees little harm.

I crossed the Inver on a low wooden bridge, and then followed a circuitous route back again along a boardwalk towards a raised embankment, where the ground was decorated with pignut and alive with bees and hoverflies. A painted lady butterfly danced ahead of me, luring me on. The embankment is part of an old railway line that once ran from Larne across the site. I realised then that the straight, parallel lines of coppiced hazels I had seen earlier also mark this railway track. I walked back along the embankment until my way was blocked by trees and I had to clamber down on the far side. I was able to follow a grass path that led through numerous saplings that were already supporting wildlife – I was aware of a wren chatting somewhere in the low branches, while a pair of blue tits fussed around me. And there are small mammals in this part of the wood – I know because I found a dead shrew in the grass. These tiniest of creatures can only exist for two hours or so without eating, so their lives tend to be one long search for food - which, in their case, consists of insects.

On the return journey I paused at a seat in an elevated clearing, which provided a welcome respite and good views over a considerable portion of Clements’ Wood and the surrounding farmland. This local nature reserve is not large, yet it holds a definite charm. Its fascinating history and evidence of community involvement contribute to a memorable visit.