Visitor Guidelines
While the hay crop is growing in June and July please keep to the obvious paths which form a circuit around the reserve. Please keep dogs under close control especially when there are grazing cattle and/or sheep present. Waterproof footwear advised.
Description
Our new reserve, The Parks, lies midway along the Dulas Brook valley and comprises an impressive and majestic sweep of grassland lying on the gentle north and south facing slopes of the Brook. Together with the ancient boundary hedgerows, the brook and its wooded margins and scattered parkland trees the 44 acres of mainly unimproved grassland supports a rich diversity of species.
In bygone years The Parks formed part of the Dulas Estate which was in the ownership of the powerful and influential Parry family between about 1400 and 1840. Blanch Parry was a Lady in Waiting to Queen Elizabeth I and this royal connection bestowed kudos on the family. After 1840 the Estate was first bought by the Hopton family but after 17 years it was then sold to a Lt. Col. Robert Fielden. Robert Fielden's son inherited the Estate and tore down not only the Court but also the church that stood close to the main house on the site of a former Benedictine Priory. Both Church and Court were rebuilt, the former on a site a little distance away from the house in a new churchyard. Today Dulas Churchyard is one of Herefordshire's best species rich grasslands. During this era the fields which now make up our new reserve were called The Lawns.
The 1847 Dulas Parish Tithe map reveals a number of boundary changes between then and the present day. Our single, southern field was divided into 4 fields - Caewain (Cae = field), hopyard (a very small plot by the Brook), Lower Pasture and Upper Pasture. Today's northern field comprised Old Hopyard Orchard at the west end, Upper Ox Pasture in the centre and Lower Ox Pasture at the east end. Overall these names imply the land was managed mainly for grazing.
In more recent times The Parks (or Lawns) has been managed as part of The Home Farm and for the greater part of the 20th century the fields were grazed land rather than cut for hay. Apparently one of the reasons for grazing the Parks was concerned with animal welfare. Colchicum autumnale, a poisonous plant grew and still grows in several of the Home Farm fields but not on The Parks. A simple and practical way to prevent stock eating the leaves and flowers (which appear in spring and autumn respectively) was to make hay on the fields where the Colchicum grew and graze those i.e. The Parks where it did not occur. During the Second World War a section of the Parks on the northern side of tthe Dulas Brook was ploughed. Today slight botanical differences allow this previously ploughed area to be identified from the rest of the grassland. Towards the end of the 20th century a change in ownership led to a modification in management with most of the Parks being managed for hay with aftermath grazing. This regime continues today.
The Dulas valley in which The Parks forms a prominent landscape feature extends from the source of the brook and its headwaters in Newton St. Margarets to Ewyas Harold and Pontrilas. Here the Dulas Brook merges with the River Dore which in turn joins the River Monnow just over 1 km downstream at Monmouth Cap. Upstream from The Parks the Dulas valley is fairly narrow and steep sided, supporting a mosaic of small woodlands and enclosed pastures with semi-improved and unimproved grassland. Numerous fast flowing small streams with wooded margins join the Dulas Brook along this part of the valley.
At The Parks the Dulas valley widens as the Brook flows on towards Ewyas Harold. The field patterns are little changed from the time of the Tithe and their management is largely pastoral, again with unimproved and semi-improved grasslands present. Within this section of the valley lies Dulas Churchyard, a botanical gem. Ancient Semi-natural and plantation woodlands clothe the upper slopes of the valley above and downstream from the The Parks. Ewyas Harold Common, one of the Trust's Community Common Project sites lies at the eastern end of the Dulas valley. Together the grassland, woodland, streams, orchards and commonland of the Dulas Valley support an outstandingly rich flora and fauna including many biodiversity action plan priority habitats and species.
The Dulas Brook itself supports a rich diversity of species indicating good water quality. Signs of otters may be seen along its entire length. The Brook is also home to two of the otter's favourite prey items - eels and a thriving population of native white-clawed crayfish. Our native crayfish have suffered a serious decline during the last decade mainly due to competition from and a fungal disease carried by introduced non-native crayfish. Among the bird species present along the Brook, Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher are notable. Signs of all these species may be found in the reserve.
Although its journey through the Parks, the margins of the Brook are dominated by coppiced Alder with occasional Oak, Ash, Hazel, Hawthorn and Field Maple. There are small areas of wet woodland along the brookside where Bluebell, Ramsons, Wood Anemone and Marsh Marigold may be found. The brook margins support a rich Bryophyte flora. The Dulas valley contains some good populations of Wild Daffodil and a few of these notable spring flowers can be seen on the banks of the brook.
The grassland supports a fine variety of wildflowers, grasses and fungi. The species which occur are typical of those found in Herefordshire neutral hay meadows and pastures including Yellow Rattle, Knapweed, Bird's- foot Trefoil, Bugle, Common Spotted Orchid, Pignut, Eyebright, Sneezewort and Quaking Grass. Several of the meanders, together with the western end of the northern field are not cut for hay but grazed only. In these areas anthills have developed in places and the vegetation is tussocky in nature providing a good contrast to the land which is regularly cut for hay. Many of these areas are damp and additional species such as Meadowsweet, Devil's-bit Scabious, Angelica, Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil, Rushes and Sedges may be seen. Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Common Blue butterflies together with 6 Spot Burnet Moths are prolific during the summer months.
In the autumn good numbers of waxcap fungi may be seen in the grassland including the Pink Waxcap which is designated as a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority species.
Present Management
The reserve has been accepted into the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme which provides support for management and some capital works. The aim of the grassland management is to improve the overall species diversity by hay cutting and aftermath grazing with meanders and rougher areas left for grazing only. The eastern end of the north field, which corresponds with the area ploughed during the war will be given a helping hand by having seed collected other herb rich areas spread over it after hay cutting. During the next 10 years work will also focus on improving the hedgerows by sympathetic trimming and laying and planting a new hedgerow along the north eastern boundary. New fences are to be erected and improvements to the car parking area are also in the work programme. Currently there is a only a ford to cross the brook so it is planned to install a bridge/stepping stones at either end of the reserve which will enable visitors to walk a circuit around the site. A programme of coppicing works along the brook margin and small areas of woodland will be implemented.
Acquisition Details
The Parks reserve was purchased with the assistance of a loan from the Herefordshire Conservation Development Trust (HCDT), and generous donations from members, in 2010.
General Information
Best time to visit |
Late spring to autumn | |
Habitat |
Lowland neutral grassland, stream and woodland. | |
Size |
18.42ha | |
Specialites |
Pignut, Yellow Rattle, Quaking Grass, Knapweed, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Common Spotted Orchid, Sneezewort, Pink Waxcap, Otter, Dipper, Kingfisher, damselflies and meadow moths and butterflies. | |
Parking |
at the entrance to the reserve. | |
OS map |
OL 13 | |
Nearby
Reserves |
Christopher Cadbury Reserve, Crow Wood & Meadowand Canon Tump Common. |
Downloads
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