Foxes Bridge Bog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Foxes Bridge Bog |
|
|---|---|
Example - marsh violet in moss (Viola palustris)
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Type | Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust nature reserve |
| Location | Forest of Dean, near Speech House |
| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Created | 1977 |
| Operated by | Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Forestry Commission |
| Status | Open all year |
Foxes Bridge Bog is a special nature reserve in Gloucestershire, England. It covers about 5.3 hectares, which is roughly the size of 13 football fields! This amazing place is owned by the Forestry Commission. It is carefully looked after by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, who work together with the Forestry Commission. Foxes Bridge Bog is so important for wildlife that it's officially known as a 'Key Wildlife Site'.
Contents
Where is Foxes Bridge Bog?
Foxes Bridge Bog is found right in the middle of the beautiful Forest of Dean. A road, the B4226, separates it from another nature reserve called Woorgreens Lake and Marsh. This area has been a nature reserve since 1977. It is what's left of a very old "acid bog" that used to cover this whole area. This type of bog is one of the rarest habitats in Gloucestershire.
The bog sits in a dip in the ground, on a type of soil called alluvium. A stream from the north helps to feed it with water. The water levels are carefully controlled using a sluice. This system is connected to the Woorgreens Lake and Marsh reserve nearby.
What makes the habitat special?
Foxes Bridge Bog is a great example of a sphagnum bog. Sphagnum moss is a special plant that helps create boggy conditions. Many different types of lichens also grow here. You can spot them on the trees and on exposed rocks. Even though it's an open area, the bog is quite sheltered, which helps these delicate plants grow.
A Look at the Bog's History
The oak trees that surround the bog were planted a long time ago, around 1860. In the 1830s, people tried to dig two mining pits here. They also planned to build a railway embankment, but these projects never finished.
In 1978, there was a threat from a proposed open-cast mine nearby. This mine would have stopped the bog's water supply. Luckily, the plan was stopped! Because of this, a special system was put in place to control the water levels between Foxes Bridge Bog and the Woorgreens Lake reserve. Today, a drainage channel runs through the middle of Foxes Bridge Bog.
Plants and Flowers (Flora)
Foxes Bridge Bog is home to many different kinds of bog and marshland plants. One very special plant found here is the marsh St John's-wort. This is the only place in Gloucestershire where it is known to grow!
Other plants that thrive here include:
- Marsh violet
- Slender tufted-sedge
- Common cotton-grass
- Marsh pennywort
- Lesser spearwort
- Cuckooflower
- Ragged robin
In the past, other interesting plants like bog pimpernel and two types of sundew were also recorded here. Towards the south of the bog, you can find older silver birch, alder, and willow trees.
Insects and Bugs (Invertebrates)
The marsh violets at Foxes Bridge Bog are very important. They provide the perfect home for a rare butterfly called the small pearl-bordered fritillary.
Many dragonflies also live here, just like in the nearby Woorgreens Lake and Marsh reserve. Some of the dragonflies recorded include the broad-bodied chaser and the large red damselfly.
Animals (Fauna)
You might spot Fallow deer using the site. The area is also grazed by the forest sheep, which helps keep some plants from growing too much.
Protecting the Bog (Conservation)
Foxes Bridge Bog is carefully managed to protect its special plants. This involves controlling plants that might grow too much and take over. The goal is to help the unique bog plants continue to grow and increase in number.
Walks and Visiting
If you want to explore this part of the Forest of Dean, there are two helpful books. They describe walks and places to visit, where you can see the local wildlife. These books are:
- Where to see Wildlife in the Forest of Dean
- Heart of the Forest Wildlife Walk
