Visitor Guidelines
The reserve is generally level with wide paths. There is a spacious observation hide near the entrance, overlooking a feeding station well-used by squirrels and woodland birds. Wheelchair access to the hide is via a gently sloping wooden ramp. However, following heavy winter rains, the whole site can be quite wet and muddy.
Description
Wyevale Wood, formerly called Green Lane Wood, is secondary woodland on an ancient woodland site. The soils in the wood are neutral in reaction, deriving from underlying Old Red Sandstone marls and glacial deposits including gravels. Green Lane itself was originally part of a drover's road from the Welsh hills to Hereford and on to London. The drovers had an overnight stopping place at the "King's Acre", an area just east of the wood where there was a drinking pond for the animals. Clues to the ancient origin of this site are provided by the fine wood bank and ditch still clearly visible along the north boundary, while the gnarled bases of some of the trees indicate former management as coppice. Later management has obscured the picture however; many Oaks have been planted earlier last century, while the Hazel understorey was removed and the wood sold to make crates. Furthermore, subsequent continuous grazing had prevented re-establishment of a shrub layer by natural regeneration.
Until 2001, the north-eastern part of the reserve was maintained as a wood pasture, grazed by sheep in the spring and summer months. Since then, the stock control fence has been removed and all grazing has ceased. Well-grown Oaks of similar age dominate this end of the reserve, with a few old Hawthorns along the north boundary, and scattered Holly bushes making up the only shrub layer. The understorey is now returning, with Stinging Nettles, Foxgloves, Bramble, and various grasses forming a low and impoverished ground flora. In winter the effect of previous grazing is most striking, with clear uninterrupted views through the Oak trunks from one end of the wood to the other. To the south, there is an open pasture area containing some memorial trees; this was extensively planted up in 2001 with more native tree species, around a large open glade. In 1991, a variety of trees and shrubs were planted into the western section, thanks to funds provided by the National Grid. A small stream runs along the southern boundary, parallel to the public footpath. This part of the wood has some large standing dead timber, which is proving attractive to woodpeckers. The middle of the western end forms an open glade, with small pathches of bramble which provides cover for animals and birds using the feeding station. The observation hide and access ramp were built in 1992 using monies generously provided by Barclay's Bank PLC Reserve Fund.
Present Management
The reserve is being
allowed to develop as high forest with natural
regeneration.
Acquisition Details
Freehold generously
donated to the Trust in 1990 by Wyevale Holdings
Ltd. and Mr. H. Williamson, a former Vice-President
of HNT.
General Information
Best
time to visit |
Spring and summer. | |
Habitat |
Seconday woodland. | |
Size |
4 hectares (10 acres). | |
Specialites |
Broad-leaved
Helleborine (7-9), Bluebell (4-6), Ladies
Smock, (4-6), Goldilocks (7-9), Great Spotted
Woodpecker, Nuthatch. Parking: There is space for 2-3 cars near the wooden barrier at the end of the lane. |
|
Parking |
There is space for two or three cars by the wooden barrier at the end of the lane. | |
OS
map |
Explorer 189. | |
Nearby
Reserves |
Kingsway, Lugg Meadow and Lower House Farm. |
Downloads
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reserve details 
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