Currently under construction north of the northern perimeter road A4130
WILLOWBROOK EAST The Willowbrook Park estate, sometimes referred to as "Ladygrove Northeast", is under construction north of the A4130 roundabout where Mersey Way runs south to Ladygrove Park. On entering the estate in Franklin Gardens, the field to the left is surrounded by mature trees, and there is an accessible row of six oaks to the right of the road, but beyond that the estate construction works allow only tantalising glimpses of a number of mature oaks, protected by TPOs. The public right of way which passes through this area on its way past Ladygrove farmhouse to meet the B4016 Abingdon Road may or may not be accessible during the construction works, but if it is, east of the farmhouse there is a long row of mature oaks (not yet included on this website). (For clarification: Ladygrove farmhouse is in the Willowbrook estate, whereas Willowbrook Leisure Centre is further south in the Ladygrove Park estate.) As far as can be seen, all trees with TPOs are being well protected with tall steel fencing around their canopies. Here's a link to the Planning Application and the masterplan of the development.
ACCESS TO LONG WITTENHAM PATH The best place to park for this walk to the east of Didcot is in Franklin Gardens. For details of this walk past 50 large oak, see Eastern Didcot destination page.
WILLOWBROOK WOOD In the midst of current house construction works, southwest of Pearith Farm, is a medium-sized wood with no known name. The wood, protected by a TPO, contains mixed species such as ash, oak and willow. It is likely that construction will preclude access to this wood for some time, but in the meantime it can be viewed from the Moor Ditch footpath (Oxfordshire 287/9).
WILLOWBROOK CENTRAL + WEST West from the new Willowbrook estate, there are development plans for the land north of the A4130 northern perimeter road as far west as Moor Ditch. The photos below were taken in Summer 2020. Mature trees have already been protected by TPOs. The approved Outline Planning Application for all of the development north of the A4130 northern perimeter road (including up to 1,800 homes, schools, sports facilities and pitches, shops, hotel, nursery etc) is P15/S2902/O and there are half a dozen more detailed clarifications. This whole area will be inaccessible to the public for some time during construction.
Click / tap photos to enlarge / close
Click / tap to go to a map for each tree:
Public access Private / inaccessible
North from Franklin Gardens
To be updated and completed after building work has finished and construction fencing removed.
Area currently inaccessible, but visible from Moor ditch footpath
Area currently inaccessible, but visible from the Moor Ditch path