Lea & Paget's Wood - Herefordshire Nature Reserve

 During our recent visit to Common Hill Nature Reserve on 24th April, we took a small detour to Lea & Paget's Wood. This nature reserve, in the care of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, is described as "one of the finest, ancient, semi-natural broad-leaved woodlands in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty".

At this time of year, it is always worth a visit for the bluebells...

Bluebells in Lea & Paget's Wood #1

which were here...

Bluebells in Lea & Paget's Wood #2

there...

Bluebells in Lea & Paget's Wood #3

and everywhere (but not up there!)...

Bluebells in Lea & Paget's Wood #4

Photography doesn't catch the beauty and intensity of a carpet of bluebells so for good measure here is a close-up of English bluebells...

Bluebells in Lea & Paget's Wood #5

There were quite a few trees down and there are always signs up notifying visitors of ongoing forestry work...

Fallen tree- Lea & Paget's Wood

One such fallen log was decorated with King Alfred Cakes, an inedible fungi but a good firelighter. 

And finally, one of the specialities of Lea & Paget's: Herb-paris, a distinctive plant of wet and ancient woodlands situated on chalky soils and sometimes spotted among the bluebells...

Herb-paris, Lea & Paget's Wood

Flora (flowering):

• Bluebell
• Herb-paris
• Dog's Mercury (male & female)
• Celandine
• Dandelion
• Wood Anemone
• Early Purple Orchid
• Stitchwort
• Wood Spurge
• Yellow Archangel
• Cuckooflower
• Cuckoo Pint
• Dog Violet
• White Deadnettle

Fauna:

• Holly Blue butterfly
• Speckled Wood butterfly
• Brimstone butterfly
• Orange-tip butterfly
• Buzzard,
• Blackbird
• Robin
• Blue Tit
• Chiffchaff
• Goldcrest
• Wren
• White-tailed bumblebee
• Large Red damselfly