Reserves
Prior's Wood
Grid ref: ST490 745/ Area: 62 hectares
Avon's best bluebell woodland, a walk into Prior's Wood will be rewarded with much more than a spectacular view of Britain's favourite woodland flower. Ancient woodland, streams and plantations can all be found in this wildlife-rich wood.
How
to get there
We
encourage visitors to use environmentally friendly forms of transport
wherever possible. Most of our reserves are easily accessible by bicycle,
with many close to the National Cycle Network. Click
here to view a location map of the reserve on the National Cycle Network
website. Alternatively, from Portbury take the Clapton-in-Gordano road,
parking on the lay-by on the right just after passing the last house in
Portbury Village. Walk back to the gated lane turning onto a track that
leads into the woodland
Access
Some
of the paths can be muddy, slippery and steep-sided. Keep to the best-used
paths.
Wildlife
and conservation
The
woodland cloaks part of the Carboniferous limestone ridge that runs from
Clevedon to Failand. Within much of the area ancient woodland is dominant
with small-leaved lime trees, oak and hazel being abundant. In places
mature sweet chestnut reach high into the canopy. In most places bluebell
is abundant but it is the southern and western parts of the wood where
carpets of this beautiful plant turn the woodland floor blue in the Spring.
The wood is also very good for birds including buzzard, garden warbler and chiffchaff. Spotted flycatcher is also recorded in most years. Bats also roost in the trees, and the presence of many setts indicates a large badger population.
Areas of the wood will be thinned and coppiced to encourage flowers, butterflies and birds. The ride will be periodically cut back and coppiced to prevent it growing over.
Other
points of interest
There
is evidence of iron age farming with many level terraces through the northern
part of the wood.
Further
information
This
site was purchased from the Children's
Hospice South West with support from Viridor and YANSEC, local parish
councils and donations from members and local people.
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