Pentaloe Glen is a fragile site with the wildlife interest centred around the wet flushed central area. There are no marked paths but please avoid the wetland vegetation which is easily damaged by trampling. The wild Lily-of-the-valley in the Convallaria Area rarely flowers, but it is important that the blooms are not picked or crushed if they do appear.

Both reserve areas lie within Haugh Wood which, until it was acquired by the Forestry Commission in 1925, was an extensive area of ancient semi-natural woodland. Both reserves overlie the Woolhope Limestone formations and therefore contain a variety of woodland plants typical of base-rich soils. In Pentaloe Glen, a permanent calcareous spring flushes the surrounding ground with limy seepage water and tufa deposits, before draining into the adjacent Pentaloe Brook. Over time, a botanically-rich fen vegetation has developed, which includes Marsh Helleborine, Bog Pimpernel, Marsh Horsetail and Fragrant Orchid, as well as various sedges and mosses. This wetland vegetation then intergrades with plants of moist woodland edge, such as Marsh Thistle, Herb Paris, Bluebell and Nettle-leaved Bellflower. In recent years, the surrounding conifers have been cleared, and the Glen now has a more open and sunny aspect. This makes it more attractive to butterflies like Silver-washed Fritillary and the scarce Wood White. Pentaloe is also home to a very rare and distinctive crane-fly, Gonomyia (Protogonomyia) alboscutellata, only known from 3 other sites in Britain. The waters of the adjacent Pentaloe Brook are well-oxygenated and unpolluted, and contain a number of interesting species, including Bullhead, River Limpet and a variety of stonefly and mayfly larvae.

In mid-summer, it is worth carefully checking the edges of the forestry track near the blue-topped marker post above the Glen. Several plants of the very uncommon and tiny Slender Centaury have been found here. Apart from Lily-of-the-Valley, the Convallaria Area contains many plants typical of ancient woodland, e.g. Bluebell, Twayblade, Yellow-wort and Ramsons.

Management in Pentaloe Glen involves regular cutting down of invasive scrub and, in both areas, all the conifers have been removed.

Both areas are in Haugh Wood and are managed as reserves by HNT by agreement with Forest Commission. The reserves are designated as a SSSI.

General Information

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