Brookheys Covert Nature Reserve facts for kids

Brookheys Covert Nature Reserve is a special place for nature in Greater Manchester. It is a nature reserve looked after by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust. This area is also known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI. This means it's a very important spot for wildlife and plants in the UK.

What is Brookheys Covert?

Brookheys Covert is an old woodland. It has been growing for a very long time, making it a "semi-natural" forest. This means it has developed mostly on its own.

Trees and Plants

The main trees you will see here are big oaks. But there are also many ash, birch, and rowan trees. Some parts of the wood are very shady because the tree branches form a thick roof. Other parts are more open.

Underneath the tall trees, there's a thick layer of smaller plants and bushes. This is called the understory. Here, you'll find lots of hazel, holly, and elder bushes. In the shadiest spots, you might see areas with just bare ground or fallen leaves.

Ponds and Water

One cool thing about Brookheys Covert is its marl pit ponds. These are small ponds that are connected to each other. Some of them always have water, while others might dry up in hot weather. They only hold water during certain seasons.

Not many plants grow in these ponds. But you might spot common duckweed, iris, and water violet in some of them. Many of the ponds are quite shady. Their water levels can change a lot. However, people have been working to improve these ponds. They have also managed the woodland nearby. This helps make the ponds even better for wildlife!