About the reserve

Much of the reserve is Sweet Chestnut coppice. The north side of the reserve has mature oak and beech and between here and the old ragstone quarry - ash and sycamore can be found in the long damp valley. There is a small area of conifers in the centre of the reserve in what was once a hop garden. The sides of the stream at the bottom of the valley are covered in plants such as golden saxifrage, cuckooflower, red campion and a large colony of ramsons. The valley slopes are covered with dog's mercury, early-purple orchid, twayblade and the occasional common spotted-orchid.