Reserves

Stephen's Vale

Grid ref: 637 578 / Area: 0.6 hectares

A small wooded valley with a surprising variety of plant species.

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.

Buses run from Bristol to Clutton which is only about one mile from the reserve.

Access
From the minor road between Hallatrow and Clutton at ST 634 577 walk to the reserve by taking the public footpath heading roughly south-east along the southern edge of the wood on Highbury Hill. Paths are too steep for the less mobile.

Wildlife and conservation
The steep sides of the valley have a varied woodland ground flora including wood anemone, moschatel (townhall clock), goldilocks buttercup and hairy woodrush. The slightly acidic flavour to the woodland reflects the sandstone rocks which underlie the valley. Outcrops of the reddish rock are obvious on the steepest slopes. Damp areas on the valley floor have the locally scarce small teasel plus carpets of opposite-leaved golden saxifrage and a stand of the huge-leaved butterbur.

The stream is clean and well oxygenated with a stony bed, ideal for dipper and grey wagtail, both of which can be seen here. Interesting insects include the dark bush cricket and the bloody-nosed beetle, so named because of its habit of excreting a red blood coloured fluid from its mouth when disturbed. Brimstone, painted lady and red admiral butterflies can be seen in sunny areas

Further information
The site was donated to the Trust in 1995 as a gift from FBG Trident Limited. Management of the reserve is carried out by the Avon Wildlife Trust in partnership with the Cam Valley Wildlife Group.