Visitor Guidelines
Once over the stile
into the reserve, there is an obvious circular
path, which takes you around the perimeter of
this small site. Parts of this walk may be slippery
or muddy in wet weather.
Description
This small piece
of Oak/Ash woodland is surrounded by other wooded
areas, and lies on the west-facing slope of a
ridge of Old Red Sandstone. It has been in the
ownership of the church in Whitbourne for almost
400 years. The Glebe was shown as coppice on
the 1834 Tithe map and was then known as Hillfield
Coppice. There has certainly been woodland here
for hundreds of years, long enough for it to
have acquired many of the characteristic plants
of ancient woodland and to be classified as such.
Some of the dominant Oak trees give evidence
of having grown up from former coppice, but there
are also many fine standards. Beneath the canopy,
there is a rich and varied understorey dominated
by coppiced Hazel, with some large and clearly
very old stools. Also found are Holly, Elder,
Hawthorn, Field Maple, Silver Birch, Wild Cherry,
Honeysuckle and Spindle. Particularly notable
are a few well-grown examples of Spurge Laurel,
a local shrub in Herefordshire and more usually
associated with base-rich soils. The moist humus-rich
soils carry a carpet of Bluebells in early spring,
together with other ancient woodland indicators
like Ramsons, Dog's Mercury, Primrose and Yellow
Archangel. Nettle-leaved Bellflower has also been recorded in mid-summer. The wood contains
a considerable amount of dead fallen timber and
rotting tree hulks, which provide valuable micro-habitats
for fungi and wood-boring insects.
Present Management
The wood is to be
managed as traditional coppice with standards
for the benefit of the parishioners of Whitbourne
as well as for the wildlife.
Acquisition Details
Leased by HNT since
1986 at a peppercorn rent from the Hereford Diocesan
Board of Finance.
General Information
Best
time to visit |
Early spring to late summer. | |
Habitat |
Ancient Oak/Ash coppice with standards woodland. | |
Size |
0.4 hectares (1 acre). | |
Specialites |
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff (3-7), Bullfinch. Dormouse. Nettle-leaved Bellflower (7-9), Ramsons (4-6), Bluebell (4-6). | |
Parking |
Parking is very limited, with room for only two cars on the verge opposite the entrance. | |
OS
map |
Explorer 204 | |
Nearby
Reserves |
Stockings Meadow |
Downloads
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reserve details 
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