Share

Wyre Forest becomes largest woodland NNR

Wyre Forest by Phil Rudlin

Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve (NNR) is extended by almost 900 hectares (60 percent) to now cover over 1,455 hectares.

Wyre Forest has today become the largest woodland National Nature Reserve (NNR) in England. NNRs are designated by Natural England and are rare, precious areas that protect some of our country’s most important places for wildlife and geology.

The Wyre Forest reserve, which dates back to at least the year 900, has been extended by almost 900 hectares so that it now spreads over 1,455 hectares. This is equivalent to 1700 football pitches. The forest, which straddles the Worcestershire and Shropshire border is managed by Natural England and Forestry England and includes Worcestershire Wildlife Trust land.

The nation’s forests play a vital role in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss as well as providing a source of sustainable, home-grown timber; carbon capture and places for people to enjoy. This extension recognises the importance of managing forests sustainably, so they have long-term, positive benefits for wildlife, people and the climate.

The Wyre Forest NNR features a diverse array of habitats from forest to open grassland meadows, old orchards and areas of scrub, to steep-sided valleys, created by geological faults. It is home to a vast array of wildlife including protected mammals, reptiles and birds. Its butterfly and moth populations are significant, with 58% of the UK’s butterfly species recorded here.

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said:

"This very significant expansion of the Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve marks another important step toward nature recovery in England. These reserves protect some of the finest examples of our natural environment, and by expanding their size we not only protect more wildlife but also help different species cope as the effects of climate change take hold.

"Wyre Forest is a mosaic of woodlands, ravines, grasslands and scrub, and it is exactly this kind of varied habitat that we must create more of if we are to improve the prospects for some of our most beautiful and interesting wild species, including butterflies such as the white admiral and wood white.

"This is now England’s largest native forest nature reserve, presenting a fine example of the kinds of woodlands we should strive to create more of into the future, not only catching carbon but providing a variety of additional benefits. With Birmingham nearby, improved health and wellbeing for people will be one of those."

Colin Raven, Director, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, said:

"The Wyre Forest is home to amazing and rare wildlife and we’re delighted that the National Nature Reserve is being expanded. As well as the wonders of wildflowers, fungi, reptiles and mammals, there are a number of bird species that are very sensitive to disturbance so having more protected land should help to give them a real boost.

"Nature’s recovery isn’t just about protected areas; we need more nature everywhere if we are to halt its decline. This expansion is a great start in helping to reach our target of 30% of land managed for the benefit of nature by 2030 and we hope that it will inspire residents throughout the Wyre Forest and beyond to think about how they can also provide space for nature."

Wildlife doesn’t recognise borders, so we need more, bigger, better, and connected landscapes for nature.
Colin Raven
Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

Kevin Stannard, Forest Management Director, Forestry England’s West District, said:

"Our nation’s forests play a critical role in tackling the climate crisis and biodiversity loss that we are seeing globally. Resilient woodlands, well-adapted to the changing climate conditions we now expect, help us capture carbon, improve air quality, create beautiful places for wildlife to flourish and opportunities for people to connect with the natural world.

"As the country’s largest land manager, Forestry England is working to grow our future by carefully planning and expertly managing world-class forests for future generations. Becoming the largest woodland National Nature Reserve in England is a recognition of the unique features that make Wyre Forest so special and the vital role this landscape plays in providing valuable habitats, a sustainable source of timber and a place for people to explore and enjoy."

Wyre Forest is a rare example of an ecologically diverse woodland situated close to large populations. The visitor centre welcomes around 350,000 people each year and gives people access to explore the wider forest. Visitor numbers have risen during the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people have recognised that getting outside and exploring local green spaces can have great benefits on their health and wellbeing.

Wyre Forest NNR

The Wyre Forest NNR provides an ideal space for walking and the track bed of the former Bewdley to Tenbury railway line, which ran through the forest for nearly 100 years until it was closed in 1963, is now one of the main visitor access routes through the forest. A national cycleway (Route 45) also runs along it.

The site is known predominantly for its sessile oak with other native broadleaves which include pedunculate oak, holly, birch, crab apple, wild service, aspen, wild cherry, hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn, elder, alder, alder buckthorn, small-leaved lime, ash, willows, etc. Yew trees are also common throughout the forest. The remainder of the forest is made up of plantation woodland with non-native species such as beech, Douglas fir, Scots and Corsican pine.

The rich and varied habitats of the Wyre Forest NNR attract a wide range of wildlife and is one of the most important places in England for certain species of butterfly. The management for butterflies in partnership with Butterfly Conservation has maintained 34 of the 59 species found in the UK, including the white admiral, dainty wood white and England’s largest colony of pearl-bordered fritillaries. There have also been 1100 moths recorded.

It also attracts a large variety of birds, such as woodpeckers, redstarts and tree pipits; nationally important colonies of bats, and a collection of 1,400 fungi. It is also home to deer, polecats, otters as well as yellow-necked mice, dormice, voles and water shrews.

Breeding birds on the reserve also include pied flycatchers, wood warblers, cuckoos, buzzards and raven, while dippers, grey wagtails and kingfishers can be found on the larger streams. Around the brooks and streams, golden-ringed and club-tailed dragonflies, as well as the white-legged damselfly can be found. The area is also home to many reptiles, including the adder, common lizard, grass snake and slow-worm.

The ‘Foresta de Wyre’ is mentioned in the Doomsday Book, but the area is known to have been wooded since at least the year 900. The forest was popular for hunting throughout medieval times but gradually the wood began to be coppiced in order to produce charcoal, which was used to fire up the furnaces in the new, local iron works.

In the past the area was intensively managed to produce charcoal and timber and Natural England and Forestry England are working to restore the coppice system.  Forestry England are also restocking the site with native broadleaf. Bringing structure back to the woodland leads to a more diverse habitat. Coppicing is an ancient woodland practice and small clusters of charcoal burning hearths can still be found as well as distinctive earthworks that were once ‘bell pits’ used to mine coal from beneath the forest floor.

The extended Wyre Forest NNR is now the 14th largest in the country (from the 40th largest). Prior to the declaration of the extension to the Wyre Forest NNR, the site measured 555.70 hectares.  A de-declaration of 102.48 hectares resulted in the area measuring 453.22 hectares. 

Following the extension of 1002.39 hectares (including 879.07 hectares of Forestry England land, 107.62 hectares of Natural England land and 15.70 hectares of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust land) the site now measures 1455.61 hectares.

Get involved in the Wyre Forest

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust has various work parties in and around the Wyre Forest NNR. Visit our volunteering pages for more information.

Forestry England volunteers meet on the last Saturday of the month.

Weekly Natural England volunteer practical work groups take place each Wednesday.

 

Related news