Gwen and Vera's Fields

Gwen and Vera's Fields
Gwen and Vera's Fields
	Typical flowering of wild daffodil and wood anemone (Dymock Woods)
	Gwen and Vera's Fields shown within Gloucestershire
Type	Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust nature reserve
Location	In the Forest of Dean district, north-west of Newent
Coordinates	51°56′48.3″N02°26′36.4″W / 51.946750°N 2.443444°W Coordinates: 51°56′48.3″N02°26′36.4″W / 51.946750°N 2.443444°W
Area	0.7 acres (0.28 ha)
Created	1987
Operated by	Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Status	View from entrance gates only (requested non entry to reserve)

Last updated March 23, 2022

Gwen and Vera's Fields (grid reference SO696277 ) is a 0.28-hectare (0.69-acre) nature reserve in Gloucestershire.^[1]

Location and history

The site is located about two miles north-west of Newent and is to the south of Greenaway's Wood. Both lie to the south of Betty Daw's Wood, which is part of Dymock Woods SSSI. Greenaway's Wood bank is the northern boundary of the nature reserve.^[1]

The two fields were owned by the Forestry Commission and records show this ownership was from the 1920s. The narrow strip of land formed part of a holding of Wain Cottage which adjoined the fields. The fields were pasture and orchard. Both fields have old apple, plum and pear trees. The soil is damp, loamy clay.^[1]

Flora and fauna

Gwen and Vera's Fields support an abundant population of wild daffodils amongst other species. wood anemones are also abundant, moving into the fields from the adjacent woodland. Other flowering plants include cowslip, common knapweed, oxeye daisy, perforate St John's-wort, wild angelica and meadowsweet. Meadow saffron is recorded for the west field as well as common spotted orchid.^[1]

Being adjacent to woodland, plants of the woodland varieties grow along the fields edges, such as barren strawberry, wood spurge and wood avens, with various ferns. The woodland trees include oak, wild cherry and field maple.^[1]

Hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn, dog rose, bramble, goat willow and ash form hedges between the reserve and the road.^[1]

Bird life in the woodland edge includes nuthatch, chiffchaff and blackcap.^[1]

Wild Daffodil Trail

The Wild Daffodil Trail is a selection of walks which incorporate a number of nature reserves. These have spectacular displays of wild daffodils and include Gwen and Vera's Fields, Betty Daw's Wood (which is part of Dymock Woods SSSI ), Ketford Bank and Vell Mill Daffodil Meadow .^[2]

One walk is the Dymock to Ketford walk which includes Vell Mill Meadow, Callow Farm conservation walk area and Ketford Bank (about 8 miles). Another walk includes Betty Daw's Wood and Gwen and Vera's Fields (about 2 miles).^[2]

Threat to species

The threats to the wild daffodil are numerous and include fragmentation of sites and the neglect of their required habitat, and the issue of the invasion of non-native species.^[2] Ploughing and the use of chemical fertilisers have also contributed to their loss.^[1]

Conservation

The fields are traditionally managed by a summer hay cut and then grazed by sheep. This ensures control of high growth and supports the spread of wildflowers.^[1]

Publications

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
'The Daffodil Trails', (undated), Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust

Daffodil Way Trail

Related Research Articles

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Organization

The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is the Gloucestershire local partner in a conservation network of 46 Wildlife Trusts. The Wildlife Trusts are local charities with the specific aim of protecting the United Kingdom's natural heritage. The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is managed by a Board of Trustees elected from its membership who provide overall direction for the development of the Trust and there are Advisory Committees. The work of the trust is carried out through staff and volunteers.

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Ridley Bottom is a 1.1-hectare (2.7-acre) nature reserve in Gloucestershire. The site is listed in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review' as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).

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Chedworth Nature Reserve is a 6-hectare (15-acre) nature reserve in Gloucestershire. The site is listed in the 'Cotswold District' Local Plan 2001-2011 as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 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'
1 2 3 4 'The Daffodil Trails', (undated), Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
↑ "Forest of Dean District Local Plan Review, adopted November 2005, Appendix D 'Nature Conservation Site Designations Within the Forest of Dean District', Key Wildlife Sites". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2012-09-24.

External links

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust

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[GWT_nature_reserves_handbook-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 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'

[Daffodil_Trail_Walk-2] 1 2 3 4 'The Daffodil Trails', (undated), Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust

[3] "Forest of Dean District Local Plan Review, adopted November 2005, Appendix D 'Nature Conservation Site Designations Within the Forest of Dean District', Key Wildlife Sites". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2012-09-24.

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