Drum Manor Forest Park is a small but attractive forest to visit. Way marked trails are provided for the first time visitor, leading them to the main features of interest: the Manor house, the viewpoint from the terrace, the ponds, the old estate woodlands, forest plots, and the butterfly garden.
History
The “Oaklands” demesne was established around the 1780s by the Richardson family. The Forest Service acquired the estate from the Close family in 1964. The Forest Park was opened in 1970. The Manor House The tower and the ground floor walls of this early Victorian house remain intact. The ballustraded terrace is worth visiting, as the pleasure-grounds and backdrop were specifically designed to provide an impressive vista from this single vantage point. The Pleasuregrounds and ponds. The grounds were developed during a major alteration of the house in the 1870s. They contain a number of interesting tree species, and the layout of the plantings was deliberate to create a special atmosphere. The Butterfly Garden The walled garden contains many species of plants that provide food and shelter for our native butterflies and moths. Forest Plots The plots were established from 1965 onwards. There are plots of both native and exotic tree species.