Clouts Wood

Next in our series of features on Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's 40 reserves is CLOUTS WOOD in Wroughton. The site also includes Markham Banks, Kings Farm Wood & Diocese Meadows.

OS map grid reference SU144802 What3Words: ///crop.piano.person

Parasol Fungi

Clouts Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and falls within the North Wessex Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty managed by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. It is situated near Wroughton and can be found between Markham Banks nature reserve and King’s Farm Wood and Diocese Meadows. Combine an autumnal walk through all four areas to enjoy contrasting landscapes.

Clouts Wood is a traditionally managed coppice with some standard trees left to grow on. Most trees are 50 to 100 years old, although a few oaks are about 200, with superb autumnal colours. Records of the coppice rights stretch back to the 1600s and because of the wood’s great age, 29 ancient woodland indicator species grow there.

Each year, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust leaves some areas of woodland with a dense canopy, this provides dead wood for fungi, beetles and holenesting bats and birds. During your autumn walks look for shaggy parasol mushrooms, stump puffballs and velvet shank toadstool.

Also the great spotted woodpecker, treecreeper and chiffchaff can all be found at Clouts Wood, with blackcap and goldfinch particularly liking the coppiced areas and you may even spot a roe deer.

The nature reserve is great for families with such different landscapes to explore. It also has good access for wheelchairs and pushchairs, accessible from the entrance at Kings Farm Wood, with flat gravel paths. Dogs are also welcome but must be kept on a lead. On the website you can download a reserve leaflet or visual ID guide for all the pre-arrival information you need.

"The nature reserve is great for families with such different landscapes to explore."

• 13.62 hectares • In winter wear wellies as the steep terrain is often muddy • Dogs on leads are welcome • Suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs

WiltsWild @WiltsWildlife

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• wiltshirewildlife.org

DIRECTIONS

If driving - Parking is limited so it's best to park in the Ellendune Car Park, Hall Close, Wroughton, SN4 9LD and walk to the entrance - just 5 minutes. Turn into Nursery Close from the High Street (at the traffic lights). Continue straight ahead until you reach the junction with Badgers Brook. Enter the reserve via a small bridge. If using bus – the 49 Trowbridge to Swindon bus stops in Wroughton High Street. Go down Nursery Close from the High Street (at the traffic lights near the Co-Op). Follow the road round to the right until you come to a footpath on your left - follow this to enter the reserve via a small bridge and kissing gate. If cycling - Visit sustrans.org.uk