2020

SO8074 : Track in the Devil's Spittleful Nature Reserve, Worcestershire

taken 3 years ago, near to Ribbesford, Worcestershire, England

Track in the Devil's Spittleful Nature Reserve, Worcestershire
Track in the Devil's Spittleful Nature Reserve, Worcestershire
Looking east.
The bridleway between Blackstone and the A456 near Summerhill passes through the Devil's Spittleful Nature Reserve here, with the iconic rocky knoll structure in full view.
The Devil's Spittleful and Rifle Range Nature Reserves

Adjacent to the West Midland Safari Park at Bewdley, and to the south-east, are these two continuous nature reserves, maintained by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Wyre Forest District Council respectively.
The area contains a combination of lowland heath, grassland, scrub and some woodland. Three adjacent fields acquired from Blackstone Farm in 2007 are gradually being restored to heath status. Some public footpaths and bridleways do cross the reserves, but there are many more tracks open for exploration.
The Devil's Spittleful is a rocky sandstone knoll with a cave, and several mature Scots Pine trees.

Onsite information boards explain that it is one of the few areas of heathland remaining in Worcestershire and is at least 2500 years old. First created when man cleared the woodland cover, at its peak it is likely that a swathe of heathland stretched across north Worcestershire. Since then, agricultural expansion and building have reduced it to a few fragments.

The Rifle Range Nature Reserve has an area of approximately 43 hectares (106 acres) and is classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its high quality lowland heath habitat, with some woodland. The area was used as a firing range during the 19th century. Remains of this can still be found in the form of concrete tracks, trenches (firing butts) and an old ammunition store. The reserve is maintained seamlessly with the adjacent Devil's Spittleful Nature Reserve.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Roger D Kidd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Geological interest Woodland, Forest Heath, Scrub Rocks, Scree, Cliffs other tags: Rock Exposure Cave Red Sandstone Nature Reserve Bridleway Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
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SO8074, 366 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Roger D Kidd   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Thursday, 15 October, 2020   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 20 October, 2020
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SO 8066 7471 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:22.2055N 2:17.1289W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SO 8059 7469
View Direction
East-northeast (about 67 degrees)
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Image Type (about): geograph 
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