Lea & Paget's Wood

View along path through green trees in spring

Lea & Paget's Wood Nature Reserve (c) Paul Lloyd

One of the finest, ancient, semi-natural broad-leaved woodlands left in the Wye valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Location

Lea and Paget's Wood
Hawkers Lane
Fownhope
Herefordshire
HR1 4QA

OS Map Reference

SO 593 345

View on What3Words

A static map of Lea & Paget's Wood

Know before you go

Size
11 hectares
P

Parking information

There is space for two cars at the top of the hill in the lay-by on Hawkers Lane.

Walking trails

The low-lying main track seems to remain permanently damp and can be very muddy and treacherous in places in winter. Take extra care in the vicinity of the old quarry in Church Wood. This is partly fenced off, but there are still unguarded near-vertical drops.

Access

There are no surfaced paths and no wheelchair access at this reserve.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Dawn to dusk

Best time to visit

Carpets of bluebells with wood anemone, primrose and yellow archangel make a spectacular sight in spring.

About the reserve

Situated on the slopes of the Woolhope Dome Landscape, Lea & Pagets Wood is arguably one of the finest ancient, semi-natural, broad-leaved woodlands in this area.

Large and spectacular drifts of bluebells make a fine show in springtime, mixed in with wood anemone, ramsons and early purple orchids. You can also spot herb paris, wild daffodil, sanicle, wild liquorice and greater butterfly orchid.

There are a variety of magnificent trees dominated by sessile oak and ash and an understorey composed of hazel and field maple, together with some hawthorn, holly, crab-apple and spindle.

Lea & Pagets is home to a small population of pied flycatchers, all three woodpecker species and many warblers. Alongside common woodland butterflies, the woodland is home to white admirals and wood whites and this is a good place to see the spectacular silver-washed fritillary. There is a thriving population of dormice; foxes and badgers are present, while groups of fallow deer are often glimpsed.

Contact us

Pete Johnson

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Directions

From Hereford: Leave Hereford on the B4224 and follow this road through Fownhope village. As you are leaving the village, take a left turn up Hawkers Lane. As you come to the crest of the hill (passing the junction with Common Hill Lane on your left) there is a footpath sign on the right, opposite a cottage on the left. This is the footpath leading to Lea & Paget’s Wood. There is a lay-by just a little further on with room to park.

Lea and Paget's Wood site map

Lea and Paget's Wood site map

Woolhope Dome Guided Walk

Click the image below to download the walk leaflet

Wildflower meadow of yellow and white flowers with tall hedgerow in background and hills beyond

Davies Meadow Nature Reserve (Paul Lloyd)

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