Wern Wood lies on a very steep NE-facing slope and there are currently few access paths. In summer, plant growth at the base of the slope may hide the several small streams, flushed areas and ditches present. Movement along the upper slopes can be difficult and slippery in wet weather and may cause a brisk descent if care is not taken!

The wood lies on a slope bounded on the east by a stream running in a deeply-cut dingle. The lower north-eastern slopes run down to the pasture field which gives access to the reserve. About one third of the trees on these lower slopes have been felled in recent years, including a number of Poplars running parallel to the boundary fence, and this area is much overgrown. The upper woodland is predominantly young to mature Oak with some Ash, and there is a rookery of some 20 active nests at the southern end of the wood. Hazel, Hawthorn, Holly, Gean, Willow, Elm and Elder are present in the understorey. There has been considerable natural regeneration of Ash and Gean since sheep grazing was stopped when the wood was bought in 1977. The presence of many indicator plant species, together with the shady aspect and difficult access for cultivation, all suggest that this is an ancient woodland site. The Moccas estate records show active coppicing here in the 19th century. Apart from the Poplars, other trees planted into the wood include Sweet Chestnut.

The soils of the wooded slope covered by the reserve are largely neutral or acidic, and derive from the underlying Old Red Sandstone marl and sandstone rocks. However, three small streams arise within the wood and produce lime-rich flushes covered with Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage on the lower slopes. The characteristic tufa deposits found in these flushes and streams probably comes from lime dissolved out of cornstone bands deep within the Old Red Sandstone. Lime encrustation is also found in the fast-flowing dingle stream, which has a varied invertebrate fauna, including stonefly and damselfly nymphs.

As mentioned above, approximately one third of the wood has been recently converted to coppice. It is hoped that this will encourage growth of the two bellflower species, the Giant Bellflower and the much scarcer Spreading Bellflower found on the middle and lower slopes. Otherwise, management will be aimed at eliminating non-native species, replacing them with Aspen and encouraging further natural regeneration to produce a more varied age structure.

Freehold purchased in 1977 with the help of a grant from WWF.

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