Nature Reserve
OS: 121 • GR: TF 133877 • Map ref: 30
27.5 hectares (68.5 acres) • Freehold l957
The RK Cornwallis Memorial Reserve
Location and Access
The reserve is opposite our camp site and is dedicated to the memory of the late Dick Cornwallis, Chairman of the Trust from 1962 to 1968, and nearby landowner and farmer.
If you go on the reserve please take only very small groups, and always follow the country code.
Description and Management
The reserve forms part of a once more extensive area of heathland, the remainder of which is now largely afforested or occupied by the golf course. The Warren has been put to a variety of human uses in the past, evidence of which is provided by the presence of flint implements, Romano-British pottery kilns, banks of a medieval or later field system, the butts of a 19th century rifle range, and 1914/18 practice trenches. The result of these various human activities is a mosaic of habitats that gives the reserve a varied flora and fauna. The high ground to the south is clay and carried mature oak woodland (with some small-leaved lime or linden tree, from which the name Linwood is derived) until it was felled more than 40 years ago. It is now a Forestry Commission plantation largely of pine. To the south-east, one area of pine has been felled, leaving natural regeneration.
The roadside strip of oak woodland extending from the reserve eastwards to the corner at Little London Wood is managed by the Trust by agreement with the Forestry Commission.
The flora and fauna of the reserve are rich and varied. All three heathers (bell heather, cross-leaved heath and ling) occur, and there are damp areas rich in mosses and lichens — including the Iceland moss, a rare northern upland species which is a relict here on a lowland heath. Twenty-one species of butterfly and well over 200 moths have been recorded. Water shrew and badger occur, as well as adder, grass snake, slow worm and common lizard. Of the 70 or so species of birds recorded over 30 are known to have bred. Notable among these are woodcock, tawny owl, green and great spotted woodpeckers, sparrowhawk, tree pipit, redstart and grasshopper warbler. Crossbill, snipe and lesser spotted woodpecker have also been seen on the reserve.
Waymarked Route
From the entrance gate follow the track past the RK Cornwallis memorial. On the left is a large patch of bilberry — a common plant of upland moors, but unusual on a lowland heath. The path emerges onto open heathland, where the left fork follows a circular route through the eastern part of the reserve and the right fork loops through the western part.
Western loop: 1 km (0.6 miles)
The path crosses open grassland dominated by wavy hair-grass. The scattered pines and backdrop of woodland provide excellent habitat for green woodpecker and tree pipit. Keep straight ahead and enter the grazing enclosure by the stile. Grazing here has been extended onto the heath in order to create more diversity. The bare areas are experimental plots for re-establishing heather. Cross the enclosure to another stile. From here there is a choice of routes. To return via the road, taking in the small pond and the meadow at the western end of the reserve, cross the stile. The pond attracts dragonflies and damselflies, and water vole may be seen. The meadow is wet and supports species such as marsh violet, sneezewort and devil’s-bit scabious. Alternatively, turn right and follow the path through the wood where there are some fine Scots pine planted at the beginning of the century. Look out for willow and coal tits, goldcrest and great spotted woodpecker. The path returns to the entrance track close to the Cornwallis memorial.
Eastern loop: 1.2 km (0.75 miles)
From the entrance take the left track after passing the Cornwallis memorial. The broad track leads through pine and birch, passing a hut on the right. The area by the hut has now been cleared and heather seedlings are re-appearing. The path emerges on the eastern heath, where cross-leaved heath and bell heather grow, together with cottongrass, creeping willow and many fungi, mosses and lichens. Please avoid excessive trampling on the lichen heath. The Trust has greatly extended the lichen heath by clearing encroaching birch and pine. The heath is grazed by the Trust’s Hebridean sheep from May to September to control invasive birch scrub. The path crosses the heath and enters the woodland where it turns right to meet an old boundary bank. Follow the bank to the right through the oak and birch woodland. Honeysuckle and lily-of-the-valley are present here. Look out for goldcrest and great spotted woodpecker and, in summer, garden warbler. The bank comes to an end, but the path continues for a short way before turning right along a track, which is the route of an ancient roadway. The path soon turns right again, crossing an open tract of wavy hair-grass to return to the entrance track.
For the map of the walk CLICK HERE
