| Thorswood | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location in Staffordshire | |
| Location | near Stanton, Staffordshire |
| OS grid | SK 113 470 |
| Coordinates | 53°01′12″N1°49′55″W / 53.020°N 1.832°W |
| Area | 81 hectares (200 acres) |
| Operated by | Staffordshire Wildlife Trust |
| Website | Thorswood |
Thorswood is a nature reserve of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, situated in the Weaver Hills near the village of Stanton, in Staffordshire, England. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. [1]
Its area is 81 hectares (200 acres); the terrain is steep in places. [1]
There are hay meadows on low-lying ground, where ox-eye daisy, knapweed and betony may be found with the tall grasses. On the limestone grassland of the higher ground, there are low-growing flowering plants including salad burnet, cowslip and wild thyme. [1]
Instead of intensive farming practices, there is light grazing and traditional farming techniques, some fields being mown to make hay; the grazing and mowing prevents the grass becoming overgrown and smothering the rarer plants. [1]
There are three Bronze Age bowl barrows within the reserve; they are scheduled monuments. [2] Lead mining, dating back to the 17th century, took place at Thorswood; the remains of this activity survive in parts of the reserve as extensive hillocks, up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) high, and a number of shafts have been identified. The remains are a scheduled monument. [3] Visitors to the reserve are advised to keep to the marked trails where indicated, in order to avoid mineshafts. [1]
Media related to Thorswood at Wikimedia Commons