Laymoor Quag

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Laymoor Quag

Petty Whin (Genista anglica) - geograph.org.uk - 424940.jpg

Example - Petty Whin (Genista anglica)
Gloucestershire UK location map.svg
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Laymoor Quag shown within Gloucestershire
Type Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust nature reserve
Location Forest of Dean, near Bilson Green, Cinderford
Coordinates 51°49′45.58″N2°31′2.18″W / 51.8293278°N 2.5172722°W / 51.8293278; -2.5172722 Coordinates: 51°49′45.58″N2°31′2.18″W / 51.8293278°N 2.5172722°W / 51.8293278; -2.5172722
Area 8.75 acres (3.54 ha)
Created 1982
Operated by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Forestry Commission
Status Open all year

Laymoor Quag (grid reference SO644146 ) is a 3.5-hectare (8.6-acre) nature reserve within the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. [1] The site is listed in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review' as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS). [2]

Ordnance Survey National Grid System of geographic grid references used in Great Britain

The Ordnance Survey National Grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references used in Great Britain, distinct from latitude and longitude. It is often called British National Grid (BNG).

Forest of Dean geographical, historical and cultural region in Gloucestershire, England

The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. It forms a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and northwest, Herefordshire to the north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.

Gloucestershire County of England

Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean.

Contents

The site is owned by the Forestry Commission and managed under agreement by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust since 1982. [1]

The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in England. It was formerly also responsible for Forestry in Wales and Scotland, however on 1 April 2013 Forestry Commission Wales merged with other agencies to become Natural Resources Wales, whilst two new bodies were established in Scotland on 1 April 2019. The commission was set up in 1919 to expand Britain's forests and woodland after depletion during the First World War. To do this, the commission bought large amounts of former agricultural land, eventually becoming the largest land owner in Britain. The Commission is divided into three divisions: Forestry England, Forestry Commission and Forest Research.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust organization

The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is the Gloucestershire local partner in a conservation network of 47 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.

Location and history

The nature reserve is a site of wet heath and marsh about half a mile north-west of Bilson Green, Cinderford. It is accessed from the south by the Forest Vale Road or from the north via the Forest Vale Industrial Estate. The reserve is surrounded by embankments of the old mineral railway lines, which ran from the coal fields to Drybrook Road Station; it lies on the west side of a disused line that is now a forest ride. It is located on the Dean Coal Measures and was originally part of a thriving mining area. An embankment divides the reserve into two parts. [1]

Cinderford town on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England

Cinderford is a small town on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England, which had a population of 8,494 at the 2011 census.

Drybrook village in the United Kingdom

Drybrook is a village and civil parish in the Forest of Dean in west Gloucestershire, England.

Forest of Dean Coalfield

The Forest of Dean Coalfield, underlying the Forest of Dean, in west Gloucestershire, is one of the smaller coalfields in the British Isles, although intensive mining during the 19th and 20th centuries has had enormous influence on the landscape, history, culture, and economy of the area.

The reserve is the last remaining relic of the wet heathland of the area. This once was extensive, but was lost to coal-mining and forestry activity in the 18th and 19th centuries. [1]

Habitat

The wet heathland is situated within the wider pondscape, and provides a refuge for the Great Crested Newt, an important protected species. [1] There are scrapes and shallow ponds which help to retain the wetness of the habitat, and these support the propagation of new plants and the populations of dragonflies. The variety of the habitat from sunny embankments to darker areas supports butterflies and fungi. [1] [3]

Dragonfly Infraorder of insects with long strong bodies and two pairs of wings

A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, infraorder Anisoptera. Adult dragonflies are characterized by large, multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body. Dragonflies can be mistaken for the related group, damselflies (Zygoptera), which are similar in structure, though usually lighter in build; however, the wings of most dragonflies are held flat and away from the body, while damselflies hold the wings folded at rest, along or above the abdomen. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural coloration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly's compound eyes have nearly 24,000 ommatidia each.

Flora and fauna

The area to the north of the central embankment is heathland which supports Purple Moor-grass and Mat-grass. Petty Whin grows in abundance on this site and is the only recorded occurrence in the county. Heather and European Gorse are also present. A range of typical heathland flowers flourish, including Heath Bedstraw, Lousewort, Tormentil and Sneezewort. [1]

Trees such as Silver Birch and Alder grow on the embankment. The main hardwood trees on this site were felled a long time ago, but there are numerous dead stumps in the marshland. [1]

The area to the south of the central embankment is marshland, damp and water-logged. Rushes are abundant, and plants include Marsh-marigold, Cuckooflower, Meadow-sweet, Ragged-robin, Lesser Spearwort and Common Marsh-bedstraw. [1]

The pond and spring at the eastern edge provide a swampy habitat which supports Yellow Iris, Skullcap and various bog mosses. A second pond dug in 1984 by the Forestry Commission is now well colonised, and supports a reported good population of dragonflies.

Conservation

The reserve has been grazed by Forest Sheep for a considerable period and action is taken to control invasive plants such as Bracken. Measures have been taken to protect the Petty Whin by fencing. [1]

Walks

There are two publications which detail walks, and places to visit, for recreation, and for observing particular wildlife in this part of the Forest of Dean. These are Where to see Wildlife in the Forest of Dean and Heart of the Forest Wildlife Walk. [4] [3]

Publications

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References

  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'
  2. ↑ 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 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine .
  3. 1 2 'Heart of the Forest Wildlife Walk', March 2012, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
  4. ↑ 'Where to see Wildlife in the Forest of Dean', January 2012, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
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