Nupend Wood

Path through yew trees

Path through yew trees at Nupend Wood

Ancient woodland with typical ground flora including an abundance of bluebells in spring.

Location

Nupen Wood Nature Reserve
Woolhope Road
Fownhope
Herefordshire
HR1 4PD

OS Map Reference

SO 580 354
A static map of Nupend Wood

Know before you go

Size
5 hectares
P

Parking information

Park where the track swings sharp right - there is room for two cars.

Grazing animals

No

Walking trails

The reserve is well-drained and the main paths stay reasonably dry throughout the year. Care should be exercised when walking the woodland paths at the north end of the reserve; the paths are steep in places and the ground falls away from the path edge precipitously.

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

Year round; there is lovely spring and summer flora in the glades

About the reserve

Ancient semi-natural woodland covers most of this reserve, which sits astride a steep-sided ridge of Wenlock limestone. Most of the canopy is dominated by oak and ash. Unique for this area is the large stand of well-established ancient yews growing here. The ground flora is best developed on the lower slopes, with typical ancient woodland indicator species like bluebell and yellow archangel.

Summer butterflies flourish on these warm sheltered slopes: grizzled skippers appear in May/June while marbled whites and silver-washed fritillaries may be seen in July. Scarce species like small pearl-bordered and pearl-bordered fritillaries, together with wood white, were regularly recorded up until the early 1990s, and are still well worth searching for. Nupend Wood is part of the Woolhope Dome Living Landscape.

Contact us

Pete Johnson

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Directions

There is space for a couple of cars to park in the layby on Woohope Road. The track then crosses the brook - walk straight up the track (ignoring track to the right) and the narrow entrance to Nupend wood is on the right hand side.

Nupend Wood site map

Nupend 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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