Visitor Guidelines
There is a clearly
defined, unsurfaced path running through the
wooded part of the reserve. The grassland area
is quite small and the site is a sensitive one,
so visitors are asked to keep to the path. Dogs
should not be allowed to roam free. The gate
is locked when stock are grazing.
Description
At the time of the 1847 Tithe map, the area was mainly ancient, coppiced Oak/Beech woodland with a small arable field on the south side. Coppicing has long since ceased, and the trees have grown up from old coppice stools or new seedlings to form large semi-mature specimens. In 1997, thinning operations were carried out over much of the wood to allow the succession to continue as high forest. The woodland today reflects the complexity of the surface geology, although the whole reserve is underlain by Carboniferous limestone, covered by soil of variable thickness. Some Yews are scattered through the wood, but the understorey is generally sparse, with Whitebeam, Sycamore, Spurge Laurel, Gorse, Hazel and Holly. Since thinning took place, Honeysuckle has generally increased, while Bramble has become the dominant plant beneath the tree canopy. However, interesting plants like Cow-wheat, Wild Madder and Bitter Vetch still occur. The area of wood north of the grassland and west of the path has a denser shrub layer with more Whitebeam, Sycamore and coppiced Hazel. In the far north-west corner of the wood, what appears to be a flushed former ride contains a number of planted Wild Cherry trees.
The most interesting feature of the reserve is the former arable field, which has been pasture for many decades now, and contains an extremely rich calcareous flora. This unimproved grassland also supports an unusual variety of insect life, which flourishes in the warmth provided by the sunny, south-facing aspect, sheltered by the surrounding woodland. Numerous Yellow Ant mounds dot the pasture and provide further evidence of the long history of non-cultivation. The free-draining, shallow, base-rich soils underlying the pasture support a rich calcicole flora, although near the top end of the field an interesting patch of dry heath has developed, with Heather and Gorse, which is more usually associated with acidic conditions. The grassland carries an astonishing range of calcicole species, starting in early Spring with Cowslip, Early Purple and Greater Butterfly Orchid, Primrose and Hairy Violet, through to summer with Adder's Tongue Fern, Common Rock-rose, Harebell, Field Scabious, Devil's Bit Scabious, Great Burnet, Restharrow, Marjoram, Cow-wheat, Ox-eye Daisy, Pignut, Fairy Flax, Autumn Crocus and Burnet Saxifrage, to name but a few.
Many species of butterfly and moth frequent the grassland, and a visit on a sunny day in mid-July should provide views of large numbers of Marbled Whites, Small Heaths, 5 and 6 Spot Burnets, and the occasional Silver-washed Fritillary. Other scarce species to look out for include Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Grizzled Skipper and Wood White, as well as the day-flying Burnet Companion and Mother Shipton moths. An interesting micro-moth Nemophora metallica is on the wing in mid-July, Woodside being the only known locality for this species in Herefordshire. Its life-cycle is entirely dependent on Field Scabious, the adult moths using the flower-heads for nectaring, mating areas and egg-laying, while the larvae feed on the leaves below.
Fallow deer browse in the woodland and pasture. Dormice are also present. Birds which may be seen include Marsh Tit, two species of woodpecker, summer warblers and a few pairs of Pied Flycatchers breed. In autumn, several Boletus species toadstools have been identified, including the scarce B. pseudoregius, while the rare glass snail Phenacolimax major has been collected from the pasture.
Present Management
Management aims
to retain the essential characteristics of this
ancient woodland, allowing high forest to develop
in the long term. Some coppicing may be re-instated
in the woodland at the western end of the reserve,
to provide further habitat for coppice-follower
butterflies, and to link in to the coppice works
already undertaken at Miners Rest. Management
of the grassland involves grazing by Hebridean
sheep during the winter months. Oak and Hawthorn
regenerate freely along the woodland boundary
and the sheep provide a valuable form of scrub
control. Bracken invasion is controlled by cutting
and clearance during summer. A sizeable patch
of invasive Tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum is
present in the pasture and is being monitored
to ensure its spread is limited.
Acquisition Details
Freehold bought
in 1966 with grants from Worldwide Fund for Nature
and RSNC, together with funds donated by Mr.
J.C. Cadbury. The reserve is designated as a
SSSI.
General Information
Best
time to visit |
All times of year. | |
Habitat |
Ancient semi-natural woodland and unimproved calcareous grassland. | |
Size |
3.75 hectares (9 acres). | |
Specialites |
Fallow deer, Dormouse, Pied Flycatcher (4-7), Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Silver-washed Fritillary (6-8), Pearl-bordered Fritillary (4-8), Marbled White (6-8), Grizzled Skipper (4-8), Small Heath (4-9), Wood White (4-5), Burnet Companion (5-7), Mother Shipton (5-7), micro-moth Nemophora metallica (7), Greater Pellucid Glass snail Phenacolimax major, Cowslip (4-5), Early Purple Orchid (4-6), Greater Butterfly Orchid (6-7), Adder's Tongue Fern (5-8), Great Burnet (6-8), Pignut (5-7), Wild Madder (6-8), Meadow Saffron (8-9), Restharrow (7-9), Cow-wheat (5-9), Harebell (7-9), Boletus pseudoregius, Lactarius violascens, Amanita vaginata. | |
Parking |
There is no parking at Woodside; park at Miners Rest. | |
OS
map |
Explorer OL14 | |
Nearby
Reserves |
Miners Rest, White Rocks, Lepping Stocks, King Arthur’s Cave, Lord’s Wood Quarry, Lower Wood, Mount Wood. |
Downloads
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