Trench Wood Nature Reserve

Trench Wood Nature Reserve

Trench Wood - Paul Lane

Trench Wood Nature Reserve

March 2023: We have recently received several reports about deep vehicle wheel ruts on a path at Trench Wood. These are on adjacent privately owned land and are not part of our nature reserve.

There is limited parking; please return at another time if full and please do not park on the road. Thank you.

42ha
Dog on a lead
Volunteer Group
This is an ancient woodland with areas of scrub & coppice, making it ideal for butterflies & warblers.

Location

Trench Lane
Nr Sale Green/Himbleton
Worcestershire
WR9 7JX
A static map of Trench Wood Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
42 hectares
P

Parking information

Please do not park on the road. We have a small car park off the Sale Green to Dunhampstead road.

Access

Paths are muddy and slippery when wet. Apart from main entrance, access is via kissing gates. Please note that areas of woodland with big mature trees in SE and NW are not part of the reserve and not open to visitors.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Dawn to dusk

Best time to visit

All year round

About the reserve

Roughly two-thirds of this large ancient woodland make up our nature reserve.  The woodland is jointly managed with Butterfly Conservation because of its importance for woodland butterflies.

Historically the woodland was managed by coppicing - chopping down trees almost to the ground to encourage regeneration.  When done on a cycle this ensures a constant variety of habitats for wildlife.  In the 1960s the wood was owned by Harris Brush Company to provide wood for their brush handles.  They allowed some native trees to grow but also planted non-native trees in the woodland.  We've been gradually clearing the latter and encouraging the growth of native trees and shrubs. Current management of the wood helps to ensure a matrix of habitats that can support migrant warblers and butterflies. 

An excellent system of rides and paths provide important open areas for tall herbs, grassland plants and orchids such as greater butterfly orchid, meadow saffron, saw-wort and herb-paris. Visitors should look out for white admiral, white-letter hairstreak and brown hairstreak butterflies as well as the large numbers of moths that have been recorded.

During the spring months visitors should also keep a look out for the nationally rare leaf-rolling weevil, Byctiscus populi.  This beetle is only known from ten sites in the UK and relies on young growth of aspen trees.

Forestry work usually takes place during the winter months. Our work is designed to improve the woodland for wildlife and the felled timber helps create income for our conservation work across the county. All Trust woodlands are certified with the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme for their high standards of management.

Contact us

Thomas Watkins
Contact number: 01905 754919

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Location map

Garden warbler by Chris Gomersall/2020VISION

Garden warbler by Chris Gomersall/2020VISION

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