Stapleford Woods
Coddington Ln, Stapleford, Lincoln LN6 9LE
One of my go to places to walk just out of town is Stapleford Woods. Great in all seasons and a stones throw from Newark and great for mushroom foraging (if you know what you're doing there are some pretty tasty Boletus there along with other edibles)
Left in ancient times to Trinity College, Cambridge, the 750 acres (300 ha) site was clear-felled during the early stages of World War I to supply local industry. Left unplanted between the wars, the grounds were used as a British Army camp and training grounds during World War II.
The woodland boundary marks the county boundary between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Bought by the Forestry Commission in 1950 and planted with scots and corsican pine. Now a managed working forest under the care of the Forestry Commission, surveys in 2004 found that the wood dated back at least 400 years, making it a designated ancient woodland.
While many visitors are attracted by the Victorian era-plated Rhododendrons which are found throughout the wood at heights of up to 7 metres (23 ft), Forestry England and North Kesteven council have agreed to a 50-year plan to restore the forest to its original broad-leaf tree state. Initial clearance of a 75 acres (30 ha) area yielded a resultant crop of purple flowering heather, which germinated from seeds that had been buried for over 70 years.
And soon to have even more woodlands in the area
https://newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/.../district-council.../...