THE WOODLAND Trust and National Trust have started work at Fingle Woods that will reveal an Iron Age hill-fort that has been hidden for the last 2,000 years.

The hill-fort — known as Wooston Castle — would have once been a hive of activity but is now a series of deep ditches and high earth ramparts hidden among the trees. The evidence that remains suggests it was an impressive structure, though very little is known about exactly how it was used and by whom.

It is hoped that by taking an even closer look over the coming years, more can be learned about the woodland’s history.

The first piece of work, to be carried out between now and January, will be removing a large selection of trees — mainly non-native conifers — and bracken. This is because of the damage that the roots are doing to the archaeological remains. This timber will then be removed by the traditional horse logging method, which will cause less damage than machinery. Over the next few years work can begin on further archaeological investigation and telling the story of the fort.

This vital work is being funded through a recent £730,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

David Rickwood, site manager for the Woodland Trust, said: ‘The earth mounds and ditches in this area of the woodland merely hint at the once great hill-fort that existed here. It’s exciting to think that we’re finally able to look deeper into the area’s history and hopefully tell people more about what lies beneath their feet.’

James Parry, archaeologist for the National Trust, said: ‘This great project is providing a rare chance to reveal more of the scale and splendour of the hill-fort; while also providing opportunities to explore further. Hopefully we will be able to see what lies beneath the ground by exploring the site through geophysics and possibly some excavation. It will also help prevent further deterioration and conserve the site for future generations.’

Fingle Woods is an ancient woodland located on the northern fringes of Dartmoor. It is jointly owned by the Woodland Trust and the National Trust in the first venture of its kind between the two organisations.

It is undergoing extensive restoration to repair the areas damaged by maturing conifer and public access has already been improved.

The two organisations took ownership of Fingle Woods in July 2014 and have raised over £5.4-million of a £6.4-million target which covers the site’s acquisition and long-term restoration.

The charities have received funding support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Viridor Credits Environmental Company through the Landfill Communities Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation and a number of charitable trusts and individual donors.

The Fingle Woods blog www.finglewoods.org.uk and Woodland Trust website will be updated with information and progress reports regarding the whole of the site.