Whitwell Wood

Once the playground of the Dukes of Portland but now a nature reserve owned by the son of an Italian prince.

This delightful woodland is managed by the UK's Forestry Commission but is part of the Welbeck Estate, one of several aristocratic  estates in the area around N. Nottinghamshire known as "The Dukeries". It is no longer owned by a duke as the Duke of  Portland's title expired (though lack of a male heir) but the descendents of the Cavendish-Bentinck family still own it. The current owner,  William Henry Marcello Parente, is the son of a member of the Italian aristocracy (the Principe di Castel Viscado) and Lady Victoria Margaret Cavendish-Bentinck. 

The UK's Forestry Commission hold the woodland on a long lease and encourage free public access.

The wood has a remarkable layout of paths and tracks originally established for hunting. From 1592 it belonged to the Duke of Rutland, and from 1813  to the Duke of Portland. Around 1856 he ordered the circular track in the centre of the wood  to be created, and divided the wood into segments  which form a design reminiscent of a Trivial Pursuit "pie with each segment  managed differently to provide a slightly different range of species and tree densities.

The land was once part of the famous Sherwood Forest  and it is often reported as an Ancient Woodland ( in America the term Old Growth Forest is used). The species diversity would indicate that this is the case. However it was largely clear felled in 1916 to support the war effort in World War 1. The trees are thus mainly what have grown up from the copice established by the clear felling. The Forestry Commission still manage the wood by copicing parts of it to open it up and increase diversity of the ground flora. Using the specific UK definition of "woodland" as a tree covered area that arose naturally but which has then been managed, this wood is said to be the largest in Europe.

There are a series of way marked trails of different length. Within the wood is an area that is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This is called Ginny Spring and contains two species of locally rare orchids and rare wetland plants.

A bird hide and occasional picnic benches are provided but it is the quiet calm of a very peaceful forest that is the main attraction.

Recently remains of an Iron Age and Romano British settlement have been discovered.