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 mid-winter the snowdrops begin to show covering the forest floor with a blanket of white. There is wood anemone, celandine, dogs mercury, primroses, crocuses and violets which bloom before the overhead foliage thickens in the spring. The steeper slopes of the Wye Valley often have herb paris, sanicle, sweet woodruff and yellow archangel.

Foxgloves bring a vibrancy in the spring and we have one of the best displays of wild bluebells in the world. Find out there to see them here.

The pungent wild garlic is also seen covering the forest floor in April and May and there are wild daffodils which bring a shot of bright yellow welcoming spring.

The Forest of Dean is a haven for many different types of fungi and there are foraging trips from many providers teaching you about the fungi which can be picked and eaten. Puzzlewood is also an ideal location to see many different varieties.

Ferns are most abundant in damp and shady areas and the following are just a small sample which can be found within the Forest of Dean; male, lady, broad buckler, narrow buckler, hard and soft shield, hard fern, harts tongue, various spleenworts and polypody.