Gwen and Vera's Fields

Wild daffodils at Gwen & Vera's Fields

Gwen & Vera's Fields (c) Nathan Millar

Gwen & Vera's Fields crocuses

Gwen & Vera's Fields (c) Nathan Millar

Wild daffodils

Wild daffodil (c) Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION

One of the few wild daffodil meadows left in the area known as the "golden triangle", these fields are carpeted with wild daffodils every spring. Old orchard trees and woodland boundaries also attract lots of birds.

Location

Two miles north west of Newent, Nr Oxenhall
Newent
Forest of Dean
The nearest postcode is GL18 1RW

OS Map Reference

SO696276
What3Words: duos.electrode.segments
A static map of Gwen and Vera's Fields

Know before you go

Size
1 hectare
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

Limited parking is available at the reserve entrance and at the nearby Forestry England car park for Shaw Common

Grazing animals

Sheep in late summer

Access

It is possible to walk around the Meadow and to use a wheelchair or pushchair if the weather is dry and grass not too tall, though please keep to the trail around the outside to avoid damaging the wildflowers

Dogs

No dogs permitted

When to visit

Opening times

Open access throughout the year

Best time to visit

March to May

About the reserve

Meadows filled with wild daffodils was once a common sight around the Newent area, so much so that the area was known as the ‘Golden Triangle’, attracting thousands of visitors during the spring. In the past, some visitors would travel from as far as London to witness the display of wild daffodils and take back bunches of flowers to sell. Nowadays these cheerful yellow and cream flowers are limited to certain pockets of land.

The small area of unimproved grassland and orchard hedgerows at Gwen and Vera’s Field is one such stronghold and provides the ideal habitat for other wildflower species throughout the year, including cuckooflower, meadow vetchling, wild angelica and autumn-flowering meadow saffron. The woodland boundaries attract birds such as nuthatch, chiffchaff, blackcap and jay.

Sheep occasionally graze in late summer to create the perfect environment for the wildflowers to return bigger and better the following year.

Caring for the wildflowers

We'd like everyone to be able to enjoy the wild daffodils for generations to come, by sticking to the paths and not picking the flowers you are ensuring the spectacle will be there for future generations.

If possible, please admire the daffodils from the gateway, but if you'd like to get closer please use the path the encircles the meadow. It is possible to use a wheelchair or pushchair if the weather is dry and grass not too tall.

Please do not attempt to access the River Leadon from the reserve for your own safety.