Nagshead
Encyclopedia
RSPB Nagshead is a woodland reserve, located on the western edge of Parkend
, in the Forest of Dean
, Gloucestershire
.
More than half of the reserve consists of 19th-century oak woodland, which is now managed solely for its conservation and landscape value.
In 1942, nest boxes were erected, in the hope that Pied Flycatchers would control Oak Leafroller moth
larva
, which were defoliating trees. These boxes have been continually monitored since 1948, making it the UK's longest-running bird breeding programme.
Nagshead is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI).
Facilities include;
s, Buzzard
s, Redstart
s, Pied Flycatchers
, and Crossbill
s are frequently seen in the reserve, but visitors may also spot Great Spotted Woodpecker
s, Nuthatch
es, Redwing
s, Woodcocks
and Wood warblers
.
, Grass Snake
, Common Frog
, Common Toad
, Smooth Newt
and Palmate Newt
.
Wild boar also roam Nagshead, but these are rarely seen.
Parkend, Gloucestershire
Parkend is a village, located at the foot of the Cannop Valley, in the Royal Forest of Dean, West Gloucestershire, England, and has a history dating back to the early 17th century...
, in the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
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....
.
More than half of the reserve consists of 19th-century oak woodland, which is now managed solely for its conservation and landscape value.
In 1942, nest boxes were erected, in the hope that Pied Flycatchers would control Oak Leafroller moth
Tortrix viridana
The tortrix moth Tortrix viridana is known as the European oak leafroller and the green oak moth. It is a distinctive green moth whose larvae feed on tree leaves, especially oak....
larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
, which were defoliating trees. These boxes have been continually monitored since 1948, making it the UK's longest-running bird breeding programme.
Nagshead is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
(SSSI).
Facilities
The reserve is open all year. Entrance and car parking are free.Facilities include;
- Visitor centre and toilets (open at weekends during the summer).
- Large car park.
- Two viewing hides.
- Two way-marked walks (1 mile and 2.25 miles).
- Picnic area.
- Information boards.
Birds
WrenWren
The wrens are passerine birds in the mainly New World family Troglodytidae. There are approximately 80 species of true wrens in approximately 20 genera....
s, Buzzard
Buzzard
A buzzard is one of several large birds, but there are a number of meanings as detailed below.-Old World:In the Old World Buzzard can mean:* One of several medium-sized, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings....
s, Redstart
Redstart
Redstarts are a group of small Old World birds. They were formerly classified in the thrush family , but are now known to be part of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae...
s, Pied Flycatchers
European Pied Flycatcher
The Pied Flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family, one of the four species of Western Palearctic black-and-white flycatchers. It breeds in most of Europe and western Asia. It is migratory, wintering mainly in western Africa. It hybridizes with...
, and Crossbill
Crossbill
The crossbill is a bird in the finch family . The three to five species are all classified in the genus Loxia. These birds are characterised by the mandibles crossing at their tips, which gives the group its English name...
s are frequently seen in the reserve, but visitors may also spot Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
The Great Spotted Woodpecker , Dendrocopos major, is a bird species of the woodpecker family . It is distributed throughout Europe and northern Asia, and usually resident year-round except in the colder parts of its range...
s, Nuthatch
Nuthatch
The nuthatches are a genus, Sitta, of small passerine birds belonging to the family Sittidae. Characterised by large heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet, nuthatches advertise their territory using loud, simple songs...
es, Redwing
Redwing
The Redwing is a bird in the thrush family Turdidae, native to Europe and Asia, slightly smaller than the related Song Thrush.-Taxonomy:...
s, Woodcocks
Woodcocks
Woodcocks is a locality 15 km west of Warkworth in the Rodney District of New Zealand. It was named in honour of the Woodcock family who settled there around 1895....
and Wood warblers
Wood Warbler
The Wood Warbler is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe, and just into the extreme west of Asia in the southern Ural Mountains...
.
Other wildlife
More than 30 different butterflies and 20 dragonflies and damselflies have been seen at Nagshead. 8 of Britain's 12 reptiles and amphibians breed here; Common Lizard, Slow Worm, AdderAdder
Adder may refer to:Snakes:* Any of several groups of venomous snakes of the Viperidae family including Vipera berus, the common European adder, found in Europe and northern Asia...
, Grass Snake
Grass Snake
The grass snake , sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake is a European non-venomous snake. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on amphibians.-Etymology:...
, Common Frog
Common Frog
The Common Frog, Rana temporaria also known as the European Common Frog or European Common Brown Frog is found throughout much of Europe as far north as well north of the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and as far east as the Urals, except for most of Iberia, southern Italy, and the southern Balkans...
, Common Toad
Common Toad
The common toad or European toad is an amphibian widespread throughout Europe, with the exception of Iceland, Ireland and some Mediterranean islands...
, Smooth Newt
Smooth Newt
The Smooth Newt, also known as the Common Newt, Lissotriton vulgaris is the most common newt species of the Lissotriton genus of amphibians. L...
and Palmate Newt
Palmate Newt
The Palmate Newt is a species of newt found in most of Western Europe, including Great Britain. It is protected by law in all countries where it occurs, and is thought to be extremely rare to endangered in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and vulnerable in Spain and Poland but common...
.
Wild boar also roam Nagshead, but these are rarely seen.