Forest of Dean nature reserve to benefit from improvements thanks to new funding
Wednesday 18th October 2017
Reserve manager Kevin Caster with trustees at Poor's Allotment nature reserve
One of the Forest of Dean's important nature reserves, Poor's Allotment near Tidenham Chase, is to benefit from a series of improvements between now and spring 2018.
The nature reserve is managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust charity which has received vital funding from Grundon Waste Management to make the site more accessible for visitors. A way-marked walking trail is being developed along with an information board where people can find out about the wide range of animals and plants found on the site. Artist Andy O’Neill has already created two stunning oak gates at the nature reserve’s two main entrances.
Poor’s Allotment is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a wide range of birds, reptiles, butterflies and wildflowers can be found here.
“This nature reserve offers nooks and crannies to explore, spectacular views over the River Severn and a fantastic array of wildlife in fantastic habitats. Our staff and volunteers are working hard to make it a wonderful place for people and for wildlife and we’re looking forward to revealing our improvements next year,” says Kevin Caster, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s Forest of Dean Nature Reserves Manager.
The site is an important area of heathland and acidic grassland, which supports rare flowers.
Nationally, the number of hazel dormice has plummeted by 72% in the last 20 years, but nature reserves such as Poor’s Allotment provide a haven for them, with carefully managed woodland and hedgerows.
The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust manages 60 nature reserves throughout Gloucestershire, including several in the Forest of Dean.
Over two decades, family business Grundon Waste Management, which diverts waste from landfill for recycling, has donated more than £2 million to Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.