Visitor Guidelines

The reserve is well-drained and the main paths stay reasonably dry throughout the year. Care should be exercised when walking the woodland paths at the north end of the reserve; the paths are steep in places and the ground falls away from the path edge very precipitously.

Description

Nupend reserve sits astride a steep-sided ridge of Wenlock limestone, dipping steeply towards the south-west, and comprising one of the concentric bands of Silurian limestone forming part of the Woolhope Dome. Ancient semi-natural woodland covers most of the reserve area and forms a southern outlier of the much larger West Wood, which was included in Fownhope Park, and originally extended as far as the River Wye. The name Nupend has been used since the mid 19th century. Documentary evidence as far back as the 16th century attests to the wood's ancient origins and also shows that it has probably been coppiced for many centuries. Remains of two pre 19th century quarries are found at the upper, northern part of the reserve and the south-facing slopes are now covered in flower-rich calcareous grassland. Limestone rock exposures can be found in the quarries and also along the ridge forming the central backbone of the reserve. The calcareous soils are mostly medium-heavy, but free-draining. Those on the upper slopes and ridge summit are leached and of low base content, those on the lower slopes base enriched with a pH up to 7.9, due to re-deposition of calcium-rich material.

Most of the woodland canopy is dominated by Oak and Ash, together with occasional Wild Cherry, Holly and Wild Service trees. One old, coppiced, Small-leaved Lime tree can be found near the old quarries. A notable feature of the reserve, and unique for the area, is the large stand of well-established, ancient Yews growing along the top of the ridge. Very little plant life survives in the bare, desiccated soils under their dark canopy. Elsewhere too, the shrub layer is sparse, with Spurge Laurel one of the most interesting plants. The ground flora is best developed on the lower slopes, with typical ancient woodland indicator species like Bluebell, Early Purple Orchid, Yellow Archangel, Primrose, and Viola species, as well as Greater Butterfly Orchid and large groups of Stinking Iris. Bird life in the wood is rich and varied with breeding Tawny Owl, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Tit, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, and formerly, three species of woodpecker, although Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers have not been observed in recent years. The crop of Yew berries attracts flocks of wintering Redwings and Fieldfares. Other notable species include Dormice, which are permanent residents of the woodland, while the nationally rare staphylinid beetle Omalium rugatum occurs in the leaf litter, Nupend being one of only 3 known sites for this species in Britain.

The south-facing slopes below the old quarries form a large grassy area on the edge of the woodland. The ground vegetation here is rich and diverse with an abundance of calcicole plants, e.g. Stinking Iris, Ploughman's Spikenard, Greater Butterfly Orchid, Marjoram and Yellow-wort. The lime-loving mosses Camptothecium lutescens and Ctenidium molluscum also occur. In particular, look out for the nationally scarce Stinking Hellebore, an impressive perennial forming stout clumps of dark green leaves and bearing bright green, bell-like flowers between February and April. In July, small numbers of Pyramidal Orchid spikes appear above the grasses. Summer butterflies flourish on these warm sheltered slopes; Grizzled Skippers appear in May/June while Marbled Whites and Silver-washed Fritillaries may be seen in July. Scarce species like Small Pearl-bordered and Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, together with Wood White, were regularly recorded up until the early 1990's, and are still well worth searching for. Basking Adders have also been recorded on these slopes in the past.

Present Management

The woodland is managed to retain its diversity of tree and shrub species by a programme of coppicing with some thinning. Thinning of the Oak/Ash wood on the northern slope of the ridge was last carried out in 1997. The calcareous grassland habitat is kept open by regular cutting and clearance of invading scrub. Some Birch scrub areas are managed as short rotation coppice.

Acquisition Details

Freehold purchased by the Trust in 1973 with funds raised in memory of Dr. A.A.W. Beach, and grants from Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Royal Society for Nature Conservation (RSNC). The wood is designated as a SSSI.

General Information

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