Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve

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Overview

The Wyre Forest NNR is part of one of the largest ancient lowland coppice oak woodlands in England. The reserve, which crosses the borders of Worcestershire and Shropshire, is part of one of the largest ancient lowland oakwoods in England, and features a tremendous range of different habitats, from lowland and upland woodland to unimproved grassland, old orchards and steep-sided valleys. Both the woodlands and grasslands are rich in fungi – over 1,400 species have been recorded – and in the right autumnal conditions they can produce an incredible display. The reserve supports an important invertebrate population which includes England’s largest colony of pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies.Breeding birds include chiffchaff, redstart, pied flycatcher, wood warbler, woodpeckers, tree pipit, cuckoo, sparrowhawk, tawny owl, buzzard and raven, while dipper, grey wagtail and kingfisher are found on the larger streams. Mammals found in the reserve include fallow, roe and muntjac deer, polecats, otters and mink. Yellow-necked mice, dormice, voles and water shrews are also found, and several bat species are present, including pipistrelle and Daubenton’s.

Location

BEWDLEY, DY12 2LQ

About the area

Worcestershire is a county of rolling hills, save for the flat Vale of Evesham in the east and the prominent spine of the Malverns in the west. Nearly all of the land is worked in some way; arable farming predominates – oilseed rape, cereals and potatoes – but there are concentrated areas of specific land uses, such as market gardening and plum growing.