Tiddesley Wood – the Harry Green Reserve

Tiddesley Wood – the Harry Green Reserve is a nature reserve of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. It is situated about 1 mile west of Pershore and 7 miles south-east of Worcester, in Worcestershire, England. The reserve is an ancient woodland, and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.^[1]

Tiddesley Wood
Bluebells along a path in the wood
Location in Worcestershire
OS grid	SO 929 451
Coordinates	52.104°N 2.105°W / 52.104; -2.105
Area	80 hectares (200 acres)
Operated by	Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
Designation	Site of Special Scientific Interest
Website	www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/nature-reserves/tiddesley-wood-harry-green-reserve

Description

The wood, area 80 hectares (200 acres), was once owned by Pershore Abbey. In recent times it was purchased by the Trust from the Forestry Commission.^[2]

Work is done to restore ancient woodland where formerly it was managed by the Forestry Commission as a commercial plantation; the conifer plantations are being converted to broad-leaved woodland, which include oak, ash, hazel blackthorn and wild service tree.^[2]

There are different areas, each providing particular habitats for wildlife: the coppiced plots, where there are bluebells and wood anemone in spring; the areas of larger trees, where there is mature and dead wood for particular insects; and mown paths through the woodland, bordered by herbs and shrubs which are habitats for butterflies, bees and beetles.^[2]

There was a thriving market gardening industry in this part of Worcestershire in the 19th century, and the orchard at the main entrance is a remnant of this. It is now managed chiefly in terms of wildlife; in particular, decaying trees in the orchard are a habitat for noble chafer beetles, which are rare in Britain.^[2]

Links and biodiversity

The Trust believes that links between areas of countryside are beneficial for biodiversity; it notes that this reserve links the Severn and Avon Vales to the Bow Brook Project.^[2][3]