Penguin Wood

When walking around Penguin Wood, named after the famous book publishers who funded this woodland, it is hard not to think of their classic novels and the famous penguin logo with orange background. Before assuming this new Penguin Wood title, the land originally formed the bulk of Botany Bay Farm. While the history surrounding Botany Bay Farm is unclear, many believe that a local man was transported to Australia, subsequently made his fortune and returned to South Derbyshire, creating Botany Bay Farm.

The Woodland Trust woods are entered in the far north-west corner of the site off Rosliston Road, near the Beehive Farm fishing lakes. There is also an entrance opposite the lane from Park Farm, close to Botany Bay Farm. The site covers 38-hectares of what had previously been agricultural land between the villages of Linton, Rosliston and Coton in the Elms in South Derbyshire. These are young woodlands - in 2007, around 8,000 trees and shrubs were planted, including field maple, hazel, hawthorn and rowan. Visit in spring and enjoy the stunning wildflower meadows, blossoming cherry trees and birds and butterflies. In summer you will also see poppy-filled meadows and perennial wild flowers such as meadowsweet, lady’s bedstraw and self-heal in bloom.

• No facilities. Nearest public toilets are at Woodville Road, Overseal. 

• No car immediately parking adjacent to the site
• Nearest bus stops one mile away from wood (bus service from Burton upon Trent to Rosliston and from Swadlincote and Ashby-de-la-Zouch to Linton)