Warren Vale

Warren Vale Local Nature Reserve is on the site of the former Warren Vale Colliery which was worked up until 1897. The area known as Birch Wood is now included as part of the Nature Reserve. The area was designated Local Nature Reserve status in 1993 and includes areas of rough pasture with invading scrub, some small areas of woodland and a few marshy areas. The site is very undulating and is heavily used by walkers, with a number of informal paths criss-crossing the reserve. Warren Vale is now home to many species of birds, insects and wildflowers.

The steep slopes of the Birch Wood are situated on both sides of the Colliery Brook and the area is much the same size and shape as it was on the 1851 Ordnance Survey map. The woodland canopy consists mainly of one hundred year old Beech and Sessile Oak on the higher ground with thirty to seventy year old Sycamores closer to the brook. This small area has recorded all 3 woodpeckers and Purple Hairstreak Butterfly in the last couple of years.

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Birds

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Butterflies