The Clumps

Although referred to, both locally and nationally, as Wittenham Clumps, the hills themselves are actually the Sinodun Hills (from Celtic SENO-DUNUM: Old Fort). The Wittenham Clumps themselves are the beech clumps on top, which give the hills their distinctive appearance.

First planted in the 1740s, they are the oldest known ornamental hill top beech plantings in Britain. In order to retain the presence of the clumps, the Northmoor Trust had to make some decisions regarding re-planting and maintenance of older trees. Rather than fell the old trees, or remove dead wood - which would leave the immature trees exposed to the wind - it was decided to let them live out their lives and fall naturally. Thus, the older trees gave protection to the younger ones, and completed their life cycle where they had always lived.

To this end, the clump on Round Hill was closed off in the 1980s, for safety, due to the risk of falling branches. The clump was re-opened to the public twenty years later in 2005, at which time the clump on Castle Hill was closed off.
Visits into the closed off clumps remain possible by applying to the Trust.

Photos & poetry © David Stone