The BBC Countryfile programme recently visited Culbone Woods on the north coast of Exmoor. Culbone Wood is part of the estate of Ashley Combe House, which Ada moved to after she married William King, who later becomes Lord Lovelace.

BoB video clip (7m 7s)

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Video summary

Lucy Shipley, a Historic Environment Record Officer at Exmoor National Park tells us that all this woodland used to be owned by Ada Lovelace, and they are now trying to recreate the vision Ada had for this woodland.

This includes reinstating and restoring five one-mile long footpaths, stone walls and viewpoints.

Woodland officer Graeme McVittie details conservation work of the rare whitebeam tree and their attempts to propagate (Sorbus Margaretae) one particular mature specimen located at a focal point overlooking the Bristol Channel.

Alternative viewing options

View Countryfile on BBC iPlayer

Image and video credits

BBC Countryfile

‘Clip from Countryfile: West Exmoor (Ada Lovelace)’, Countryfile, West Exmoor, 19:00 08/09/2024, BBC1 London, 60 mins. 00:38:56-00:46:03. https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/index.php/clip/255747?bcast=141716161 (Accessed 09 Sep 2024)

View towards Foreland Point from Selworthy.jpg

Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Wikimedia Commons file (download, summary, licensing)

CC BY-SA 3.0 licence description

Thank you

Many thanks to my friend Fiona MacPhee who kindly brought this feature to my attention.