Nature’s Summertime Treats (Part III)

Spring may have sprung behind closed doors this year but summer brings its own seasonal delights to tempt us outdoors. In this series of blogs, we’d like to introduce you to some of nature’s best summertime treats that you can enjoy at our reserves.

Today, let’s find space to breathe at Wyeswood Common.

Get your blood pumping again in the Great Outdoors

If you’ve been cooped up inside for too long and are ready to stretch your legs then the slopes of Wyeswood Common offers the space you need, with the added bonus of fresh air, wildlife and stunning views across the Wye Valley.

Once a large dairy farm, we are working hard to restore the site to its former natural glory. The open grasslands – once a monoculture of rye-grass – are now more colourful as wildflowers like buttercups and Red Clover thrive. There are even Common Spotted- and Green Winged Orchids here. You may see and hear the Skylarks trilling high above you and Yellowhammers have recently returned to the farm.

A waymarked trail leads through the meadows and to the edges of the woodland where Bullfinches breed and dragonflies dart through the trees as we restore the woodland ponds. This is still a working farm so it’s important to stay on the footpath.

If you’re not quite ready for your walk to end, then our Pentwyn Farm reserve is just next door, with even more spectacular wildflower meadows and an orchard to enjoy.

A work in progress

Thanks to our supporters, GWT was able to purchase this site when it came up for sale in 2007. Its position right next door to our Pentwyn Farm reserve thrilled us with the opportunity of connecting the two to create important habitats on a landscape-scale.

Still very much a work in progress, we’re restoring the meadows to support wildflowers, laying and repairing the hedgerows using traditional techniques to provide important wildlife corridors for animals like dormice, and managing the woodland to create a diverse habitat for more species. We’ve already seen great results and there’s plenty more to come.

Andy Karran

Andy Karran

Ray Armstrong

Help us keep our Nature Reserves open as a haven for wildlife and people!

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Our local green spaces are more important than ever before, as refuges for wildlife and calming breathing-spaces for ourselves. We have kept all our Nature Reserves open throughout the Spring lockdown. Whilst there the need to maintain and manage these precious places has never been greater, funds have never been less certain.

We need to raise around £350,000 each year to maintain our 30 Nature Reserves for the threatened and important wildlife they support and people who visit them. This year, we are facing a shortfall of £35,000.

If it weren't for the generous support of our members, Pat Gorvin's legacy, the support of players of the People's Postcode Lottery and other grants, this would be much higher. Please support us by making a donation or becoming a member, if you are able. We will be grateful for any support you can give to help maintain these precious places at this difficult time.