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  • Stay
    • Accessible Accommodation
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    • Caravans, Campervans & Holiday Parks
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      • 12 Easy Walks
      • Guided Tours
      • The Wye Valley Walk
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      • The Offa's Dyke Path
      • Symonds Yat Rock Walks
      • The Wye Valley Greenway
      • Accessible Walks
      • Other Walking Routes & Trails
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  1. Muntjac, Forest of Dean
  2. Wild Boar Forest of Dean
  3. Fallow Deer in the Forest of Dean
  4. Exmoor Ponies in the Forest of Dean
  5. Wild Boar in the Forest of Dean
  6. Deer in the Forest of Dean

You are here: Explore > Nature & Wildlife > Wildlife

Wildlife

We have a wide range of wildlife here in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. Find out more about our deer, boar and birds which have a page each about them or read on for information on some of our other wildlife:

Small Mammals

Small animals find shelter in the trees and hedgerows here including grey squirrels, voles, hedgehogs, foxes and dormice. Badgers centre their life around their underground home or sett, emerging after sunset for food.

Sheep

The Forest of Dean is famous for its large population of free roaming sheep derived from many breeds and include Welsh mountain, speckled faced or cheviots with the occasional kerry or ryeland. "Sheep Badgers" is a Forest term for the residents who have ancient rights to graze sheep freely. The sheep have been around for hundreds of years and are likely to continue to be part of the Forest scenery. See them especially around Parkend where they enjoy the cooling dry stone walls.

Conservation Projects

Our local wildlife trusts have a series of introduced wildlife to improve conservation including grazing and flood defences:
Two beavers were introduced to Greathough Brook in Lydbrook in 2018 in an innovative project to see if they would help with local flood defences. Find out more here.
Exmoor ponies, English longhorn cattle and Highland cattle have been introduced at several reserves in the Forest of Dean including Woorgreens and Tidenham Chase. Find out more here.
Pine martens were introduced in 2019 by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust in the centre of the Forest of Dean. It is very unlikely you will see any! Find out more here.

Bats

There are several species of bats recorded within the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley and they are protected. The pipistrelle, noctule and long-eared bat are the most common species, and the lesser and greater horseshoe bat can be seen too. They will come out at dusk and can be seen flitting through the air catching bugs. Visit Clearwell Caves to find out about their bat project.

Insects

The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is home to over thirty different species of butterfly. Specialities include the purple hairstreak, white admiral, silver washed fritillary, grizzled skipper and wood white, while open areas support small copper, marbled white, small heath and common blue. Wildlife reserves are excellent for butterfly spotting but you can also see many across the whole area especially in spring.

The large oaks of the Forest of Dean individually can support up to 300 different insects and their old hollow branches and trunks are nest sites to many generations of tawny owls and woodpeckers who thrive on the large insect population.

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Find Your Freedom

  1. Deer
    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.
  2. Boar
    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.
  3. Birds of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley
    Birds of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley
    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.
  4. Nature & Wildlife Experiences
    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.
  5. Nature & Wildlife Attractions
    Nature & Wildlife Attractions
    The natural world is abundant in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley and there are so many wild and magical places to explore. Get off the beaten track and immerse yourself in nature, discover ancient trees, impressive wildlife and places you can take the whole family for a great day out.
  6. Flora
    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
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