About the reserve

Lying on a chalky boulder clay plateau, these woodlands are filled with Ash, Maple, Oak, Hornbeam, Birch and Lime trees. Amongst them is the rarer Wild Service trees, with its maple shaped leaves, beautiful white flowers in spring and gorgeous red and copper colour in Autumn.

In spring, wander around the woods serenaded by the calls of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and if you’re lucky maybe even a Nightingale, or the occasional Whitethroat nearer the hedge fringes. See if you can spot the undulating flight of a Goldcrest, or a Treecreeper, Bullfinch and Nuthatch as they pass by. The woodland floor hosts a beautiful array of Spring Primroses, Violets, with patches of Woodruff, Yellow Archangel, Cuckoo Flower and Bugle.

Into the summer and Birds-foot Trefoil, Common Fleabane and Common Centaury can be found out in the meadows, accompanied by flittering Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Small Heath and Skippers butterflies. If you look closely at the leaves of Oak and Ash, you may even spot a Purple Hairstreak!

Hidden among the trees are several ponds, home to Common Frog, Smooth Newt and the protected Great Crested Newts during their breeding season.