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Nature & Wildlife of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley

From the 20 million trees in the Forest of Dean to the 58 mile long Wye Valley AONB, our natural beauty, dramatic landscapes and plethora of flora and fauna are what make our area so unique. You can walk for miles along glorious paths and see a wide range of local plants, trees and animals. You can spot unusual birds in a number of reserves, hear the most divine dawn chorus, see deer and boar if you're lucky, and in fact you may even see some of our resident wildlife from your holiday accommodation. Nature is at the heart of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley and in these pages we hope you will learn a little more about what makes this area so special.

About the Forest of Dean

The Forest of Dean was recorded as The Forest in the 'Domesday Book' (1086) and as Dene or Dean after the Old English Denu for valley. In medieval times it was a royal hunting forest, before becoming a source of timber for the navy's Tudor warships. By Victorian times it was a major site of industry, with coal mining and tramways punctuating the landscape. In 1924 it was transferred to the Forestry Commission and in 1938 it was designated as the first National Forest Park in England. Today, it is still a working forest and Forestry England manages it sympathetically and sensitively while liaising on conservation matters with the main conservation bodies.

The forest is bound by the rivers Wye to the north and west, and the Severn to the south and east. Around the forest are rolling hills, farms and vineyards and many interesting villages and towns. These ancient woodlands and its variety of wildlife hold many surprises just waiting to be discovered.

About the Wye Valley

The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an internationally important protected landscape and straddles the border between England and Wales, from Hereford in the north to Chepstow in the South where the Wye meets the Severn. It is one of the most dramatic and scenic landscapes in Britain. The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK at 134 miles but the area designated as an AONB covers 126 sq milies. The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) was first designated in 1971. Having the same level of protection as a National Park, the purpose of the AONB is to conserve and enhance the outstanding landscape of the Wye Valley, so that we, and future generations, can enjoy it. The Wye Valley offers a varied and contrasting geographical landscape, from the flatter Herefordshire valley with a winding river, to dramatic limestone cliffs with nesting peregrine falcons.

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Wildlife

We have a wide range of wildlife here in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, including deer, boar and birds. Find out about the animals which live here and where you might be able to spot them on your visit.
Birds

The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is home to a huge variety of birds throughout the year. Some are resident and can be seen in great numbers while others come here for the spring and summer, or autumn and winter. The mosaic of woodland, heathland, bogs and mires, rivers and streams, farmland and grassland habitats provide a rich environment for birds, many of which are nationally rare.
Nature & Wildlife Experiences

Our wildlife experiences and nature-based activities are of course abundant here in our ancient forest and wild river valley. Our countryside holds many treasures and we have a wide range of activities and experiences ideal for exploring and learning about our natural world. We have foraging and bushcraft experiences, wildlife safaris and birdsong walks, birds of prey and falconry experiences and much much more.
Boar

Boar were once common in the Forest of Dean and were hunted for food. In medieval times, boar from the Royal Forest were supplied for the king's table - there is a record of an order for 100 boars and sows for a Christmas feast in 1254.
Deer

There are three species of deer to look out for in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley: the fallow, roe and muntjac. There is a good chance of seeing deer particularly once you move away from busy areas.
Nature & Wildlife Attractions

The natural world is abundant here and there are so many wild and magical places to explore in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. Places you can explore off the beaten track, where you can immerse yourself in nature, places where you can discover ancient trees, impressive wildlife and places you can take the whole family for a great day out.
Flora

The underlying geology of the Forest of Dean is limestone and sandstone and has resulted in a rich and varied flora. The Forest is home to many wild flowers, from winter snowdrops to spring bluebells, daffodils and foxgloves
Bluebells

The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is home to some of the most spectacular shows of bluebells in the country and visitors eagerly await their return each year and the pleasure of seeing the stunning carpets of bluebells that can be found deep in the woods or even viewed from the road while driving. Here are our best places to see bluebells in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.
Daffodils

The area around Dymock, on the Gloucestershire and Herefordshire borders, is famed for its wild daffodils that can be seen each year around the end of March. Once a common sight throughout Gloucesteshire, and its county flower, these small blooms are now found mainly in the "golden triangle".
Trees

There are over 20 million trees in the Forest of Dean alone with a wide range of both deciduous and evergreen trees. Predominant is oak, both pedunculate and sessile. Beech is common and sweet chestnut has grown here for many centuries, as well as ash, birch and holly. Conifers include some Weymouth pine from 1781, Norway spruce, Douglas fir and larch.
Severn Bore

If you haven't yet witnessed the incredible spectacle that is the Severn Bore, make a date to do so, it's well worth it. One of Britain's few natural phenomena, the Severn Bore is a large surge wave that can be seen in the estuary of the River Severn, where the tidal range is the 2nd highest in the world, being as much as 50 feet (approx. 15.4m).
The History of the Forest of Dean

From the time of the Norman conquest in 1066 until 1971 the Dean was a Royal Forest. It was used by the Normans as their personal hunting ground and kept stocked with deer and wild boar. Its history is rich and fascinating.