Visitor Guidelines
Parts of the reserve may
be very wet, so waterproof footwear is advised.
Description
Canon Tump is a registered
common in the foothills of the Black Mountains, west
Herefordshire. The reserve is roughly triangular in shape
and consists mainly of neutral grassland, bounded on
the north and south by woodland, grading into overgrown
hedgerows. A deep, permanently wet ditch runs along the
south-western side, parallel to the roadside boundary
fence. Previously used as a travellers' camping ground,
the common has been the subject of a major rehabilitation
scheme by HNT to clear rubbish and restore the grassland,
helped and supported by local people. With restoration
complete, the reserve now consists of an interesting
mosaic of habitats, including coppice woodland, scrub
and flower-rich grassland containing seasonally wet sumps
and small pools. Over 150 species of plant have been
recorded on the reserve, among which Cowslip, Spotted
Orchid, Bluebell, Broad-leaved Helleborine, Betony and
Cow-wheat are notable. Registered local commoners exercise
their rights to graze animals on the reserve, and as
there are no internal fences, the stock can roam and
graze unchecked. Over time, it is hoped the grazing regime
will benefit the ground flora, which is rather sparse
in some areas. Within the grassy area are two scrub-covered
islands - one dominated by Bracken and Aspen suckers,
the other by the introduced undershrub Gaultheria shallon,
which has pink flowers followed by black fruits. Many
trees and shrubs on the site are multi-stemmed, indicating
coppicing in the past, and the Trust has re-instated
small-scale coppicing on the wooded fringes of the common.
Despite its altitude (260m.), the under-lying clayey
soils ensure that parts of the reserve remain semi-waterlogged
throughout the year, adding additional interest to the
site, and supporting a local abundance of Aspen and Willows.
In the drier south-east part of the site, suckering Blackthorn
makes dense thickets.
Present Management
As already mentioned, the
common is now regularly grazed, which should over time
reduce the vigour of the dominant grasses Deschampsia
caespitosa and Holcus mollis, and encourage the spread
of herbaceous plants like Cowslip, Bugle and Knapweed.
Other management involves periodic cutting back of encroaching
Bracken, Willow and Blackthorn. Each year a small block
of boundary woodland is felled, so that over a 12 year
period the entire wooded boundary will return to a coppice
regime.
Acquisition Details
Bought by the Trust in 1992.
Best time to visit |
Spring and summer. | |
Habitat |
Neutral grassland on an ancient common. | |
Size |
3.75 hectares (9 acres). | |
Specialites |
Chiffchaff (3-7), Willow Warbler (4-7), Long-tailed Tit. Common Frogs use the pools to spawn in early spring. Ringlet (6-8), Meadow Brown (6-9) and Small Skipper (6-9) butterflies. Broad-leaved Helleborine (7-9), Spotted Orchid (6-8), Common Cow-Wheat (5-9). | |
Parking |
There is room for 1-2 cars to park at the entrance. | |
OS map |
Explorer OL13 | |
Nearby
Reserves |
Christopher Cadbury Reserve, Crow Wood & Meadow. |
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