Black Firs Wood

The 1.15ha woodland is dominated by birch and oak underplanted with hazel, holly and guelder rose. The site is used for educational purposes and has a circular footpath that is accessible for all, which passes by 2 ponds.

Location
Black Firs is in Somerford, Congleton - (O.S. Grid Ref.: SJ834638). Being on the fringe of Congleton the reserve is very accessible to local people.

Access
The reserve is open to all. There is a circular path with a hard surface around the reserve. Please keep to the path.

Status
The site was bequeathed to Cheshire Wildlife Trust in 1991. In 2002 we acquired additional land, giving a total of 1.15ha. Since then a great deal of work has been done, much of it by volunteers, to improve the reserve both for wildlife and as an educational resource.

Flora
The tree canopy is dominated by mature silver birch with occasional oak and rowan. It has been underplanted with oak, holly, hazel and guelder rose. Alder and willow grow in the wetter areas. Hedges of hawthorn, blackthorn, dog rose, hazel and guelder rose have also been planted. Nettle, bracken, bramble and grasses dominate the ground flora of this open wood.

Fauna
A pond with associated bog area has been created, and this is used by common frogs and toads. There is abundant bird life including blue tit, great tit, wren, blackbird, chaffinch, nuthatch and great spotted woodpecker. On a sunny day the speckled wood butterfly is common in clearings.