Birmingham NEC
Birmingham NEC
Swinley Forest Berkshire
Situated to the south-west of Windsor Great Park, the forest stretches from Bracknell, in the north, to Bagshot, in the south. It is owned and managed by the Crown Estate and comprises over 2,600 acres (11 km2) of woodland across gently undulating hills. Although now mostly a modern plantation of Scots Pines, the area was once part of Windsor Forest. Swinley Forest includes Crowthorne Woods around Caesar’s Camp between the Nine Mile Ride and Crowthorne; Swinley Park between Forest Park and the B3017; Bagshot Heath just west of Bagshot; and Swinley Woods around Kings Ride between the B3017 and South Ascot. Much of the woods cover what used to be moorland as indicated by the names of some of the hills, such as Broadmoor, Owlsmoor, Wishmoor, Gormoor, Whitmoor and Englemoor (now Englemere).
Swinley Park once surrounded Swinley Lodge where the King kept the Royal Staghounds in Georgian times. It was at the centre of Swinley Walke, one of the sub-divisions of Windsor Forest.
There are a number of late 18th century redoubts scattered throughout the forest. These defensive earth fortifications were built here not as working defences but as training grounds to carry out military exercises in the buildup to the Napoleonic Wars.
In May 2011 forest fires broke out throughout the forest; the cause is believed to be a mixture of the unseasonably dry conditions and arson. Although the fires were stated at the time by the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service to have been the most extensive fires ever tackled by the service, the extent of the damage to the forest was relatively limited
Wildmoor Heath Crowthorne Berkshire
Wildmoor Heath Crowthorne Berkshire
The site is jointly-owned by Bracknell Forest Council and the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust and managed in partnership as a nature reserve. Traditional management practices such as grazing and scrub cutting are carried out to maintain the heathland for biodiversity.
You may also see wardens from the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership at the site during the bird nesting season (March to September). This is when ground nesting birds are most sensitive to disturbance by dogs and when we ask visitors to please stick to the paths and keep dogs on leads. These wardens have worked across the wider Thames Basin Heaths SPA (Special Protection Area) since 2015, monitoring visitor trends and engaging with visitors and local communities to promote conservation of the protected area and its rare wildlife
Information boards have been installed to keep visitors informed about the local wildlife along with new signage, fencing and footpath improvements. This will help to protect the many species found on the lowland heath.
Wildlife
Wildmoor Heath is one of the most valuable areas in Bracknell Forest borough for supporting and conserving biodiversity. Three rare birds; the woodlark, nightjar and Dartford warbler depend upon the lowland heath, which is protected by SPA and SSSI status.
Over 55 bird species have been recorded at Wildmoor, including the stonechat, tree pipit, whitethroat and reed bunting.
The following Bracknell Forest species have also been recorded at this site:
- devil’s-bit scabious
- ragged robin
- round-leaved sundew
- glow-worm
- silver-studded blue butterfly
- stag beetle
- bullfinch
- hobby
- kingfisher
Among the many invertebrates on the site is the raft spider, which lives in the moss-filled pools of the bog, and dragonflies and damselflies such as the keeled skimmer and red darter. Foxes and roe deer are also present, and are easiest to find at dawn and dusk, while a number of bat species can be seen on warm summer evenings as they catch insects around the edges of trees and bushes.
Puttenham Common Surrey
Puttenham Common
The remains of an extensive area of lowland heath in times gone by and part of the Hampton Estate, Surrey Wildlife Trust manages access to Puttenham Common on behalf of Surrey County Council.
In the summer months, large swathes of beautiful blooming bell heather and ling dominate the open areas of the common, with areas of oak and Scots pine. There are also several large ponds with associated wetland and carr areas, which contain a good range of aquatic plants and invertebrates including Great crested newts.
Many birds visit the reserve, including great crested grebes, green woodpecker, grey heron and heathland specialists such as nightjar. Adders can be seen basking in the sun on the southern facing slopes and a fine display of fungi species are present during early autumn.
The site is also a great reserve to see butterflies and dragonflies, which patrol the sandy paths.
Puttenham Common is of high archaeological interest. Substantial finds have been recorded from almost every period. The main feature is the Hill Fort at Hillbury which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, probably dating back to the Iron Age. The reserve was also used extensively by the military during World War 2 with evidence including slit trenches and rifle range butts.
Chobham Common Surrey Monument Car Park
Chobham Common Surrey Monument Car Park
Henley Park Pirbright Surrey Dog Photoshoot
Henley Park Pirbright Surrey Dog Photoshoot
Bramshill Hampshire Dog Photoshoot
Bramshill Hampshire Dog Photoshoot
MOD Ranges Mytchett Camberley
MOD Ranges Mytchett, Camberley
