Five Acre Grove
Five Acre Grove is a small woodland in Gloucestershire, to the north of Frocester, bisected by the Bristol to Gloucester railway line.
Just over twelve acres of the wood are managed as a nature reserve by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, to whom the wood has been leased from the owners since 1966.[1]
The site is listed in the local plan as a ‘Key Wildlife Site’.
Location and habitat
- Location map: 51°44’5"N, 2°18’29"W
- Map: SO788040
The grove is one of a diminished number of ancient woodlands in the Severn Vale. It is found between Eastington to the west and Leonard Stanley to the east, just north of Frocester, on the course of the Bristol-Gloucester railway line, which passes through it. The wood is shown as a larger area in Sir Isaac Taylor's 1777 map of the county. Railway construction cut off five acres to the east in the 1840s: the name as Five Acre though is a corruption of Fyfacres, which was its name in 1530. Its local popular name is Bluebell Wood.[1]
The wood grows on heavy lower lias clay. The grove is described as ancient oak and ash woodland and it known for its spring flowers, bird life and bird song.[1]
Flora
The tree canopy is dominated by pedunculate oak and [ash some of which are estimated to be 200 years old. This canopy opened up after the loss of elm to disease, and then beech after the 1976 drought. There are old ash coppice and hazel coppice. wild service-trees are in evidence. Mixed varieties make up the shrub layer and include field maple, spindle, hawthorn and holly. The west wood contains crab apple trees.[1]
As its local name implies, the grove supports a good display of bluebells in the spring. Other flowers present are those expected in such woodland being wood anemone, early purple orchid, ramsons and dog-violet. Herb-paris is also recorded.[1]
Bird life
The bird life has been recorded for the Common Bird Consensus. Breeding birds include great spotted woodpecker, marsh tit, blackcap, jackdaw, bullfinch, wren, mistle thrush and also goldcrest and spotted flycatcher. Notable visiting winter flocks include redwing and fieldfare. Woodcock and brambling are recorded. Owls use the area for hunting.[1]
Other species
Stoats, weasels, harvest mice, shrews and short-tailed voles are found here. Common lizard and slowworms are recorded too.
Conservation
Clearance of pathways and various management of this grove are important to maintain the variety of interest. Some dead wood has been left to support invertebrates and fungi.[1]
Outside links
References
- Kelham, A, Sanderson, J, Doe, J, Edgeley-Smith, M, et al., 1979, 1990, 2002 editions, 'Nature Reserves of the Gloucestershire Trust for Nature Conservation/Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust'
- ‘Nature Reserve Guide – discover the wild Gloucestershire on your doorstep’ - 50th Anniversary, January 2011, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust