Tiddesley Wood – the Harry Green Reserve explained

Tiddesley Wood
Map:Worcestershire
Map Width:210
Grid Ref Uk:SO 929 451
Coordinates:52.104°N -2.105°W
Operator:Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
Designation:Site of Special Scientific Interest

Tiddesley Wood – the Harry Green Reserve is a nature reserve of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. It is situated about 1 mile west of Pershore and 7 miles south-east of Worcester, in Worcestershire, England. The reserve is an ancient woodland, and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[1]

Description

The wood, area, was once owned by Pershore Abbey. In recent times it was purchased by the Trust from the Forestry Commission.[2]

Work is done to restore ancient woodland where formerly it was managed by the Forestry Commission as a commercial plantation; the conifer plantations are being converted to broad-leaved woodland, which include oak, ash, hazel blackthorn and wild service tree.[2]

There are different areas, each providing particular habitats for wildlife: the coppiced plots, where there are bluebells and wood anemone in spring; the areas of larger trees, where there is mature and dead wood for particular insects; and mown paths through the woodland, bordered by herbs and shrubs which are habitats for butterflies, bees and beetles.[2]

There was a thriving market gardening industry in this part of Worcestershire in the 19th century, and the orchard at the main entrance is a remnant of this. It is now managed chiefly in terms of wildlife; in particular, decaying trees in the orchard are a habitat for noble chafer beetles, which are rare in Britain.[2]

Links and biodiversity

The Trust believes that links between areas of countryside are beneficial for biodiversity; it notes that this reserve links the Severn and Avon Vales to the Bow Brook Project.[2] [3]

Notes and References

  1. https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1003066 "Tiddesley Wood SSSI"
  2. https://www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/nature-reserves/tiddesley-wood-harry-green-reserve "Tiddesley Wood – the Harry Green Reserve"
  3. https://www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/bow-brook-project "Bow Brook Project"