Upper Swingley Wood

A long narrow strip of woodland with a small stream running through the centre.

Location

Upper Swingley Wood nature reserve
Bockleton
Malvern Hills
Worcestershire
WR15 8PS

OS Map Reference

SO 589 624
A static map of Upper Swingley Wood

Know before you go

Size
1 hectare
P

Parking information

Space for one or two cars on the roadside,

Grazing animals

None

Walking trails

Access around the reserve on the marked paths is straightforward. Parts of the reserve remain very damp even in summer and waterproof footwear is advised.

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

Spring and summer.

About the reserve

The reserve consists of a long, narrow strip of coppice woodland. A small stream rises near the south end of the site and runs down the centre of the wood, bounded on both sides by marshy ground.

Originally, the reserve would have been dominated by Alder and Willow, but in 1811 the Bockleton estate planted the area up as an "Ash bed", probably to supply poles for the nearby hop-yards. As a result of this planting, although Alder and Willow still grow in the marshy parts, in the drier areas there are now massive old coppiced Ash stools, covered in mosses and lichens, and forming a particular feature of the reserve. The ancient nature of this wood is confirmed by the distinctive ground flora with large amounts of bluebell, primroses and moschatel.

There are smaller quantities of yellow archangel, meadow saffron, woodruff, red campion, twayblade and early purple orchids. In the marshy areas, meadowsweet and water avens abound, with marsh marigolds beside the stream.

Contact us

Lewis Goldwater

Coppicing at Upper Swingley Nature Reserve, 2019

Lewis Goldwater and a team of fantastic volunteers undertake coppicing at this reserve.

Many thanks to Severn Waste who funded this work through the Landfill Communities Fund.

Upper Swingley Wood site map

Upper Swingley Wood site map

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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