Harston Wood facts for kids

Harston Wood is a special place for nature, managed by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. It's an ancient woodland, which means it has been a forest for hundreds of years. You can find it right next to the village of Froghall, close to Cheadle, Staffordshire, in England.

Explore Harston Wood

This amazing nature reserve covers about 3 hectares, which is roughly the size of three football fields! It's a long, narrow strip of land, almost a mile long. Harston Wood sits on a steep hillside. On one side, you'll find Shirley Brook, a small stream that flows into the River Churnet. On the other side, there's an old path that used to be a tramway. This path is a great spot to see the whole wood.

A Special Place for Nature

Harston Wood is part of a bigger area called the Churnet Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest. This means it's officially recognized as important for its plants, animals, and geology. The wood has been here for over 400 years, making it truly ancient.

Trees and Plants

The main trees you'll see in Harston Wood are ash trees. But there are many other types too, like hazel, oak, and small-leaved lime. In places where the ground is very wet, you might find areas of alder carr. These are special wet woodlands with alder trees.

On the forest floor, you'll discover lots of interesting plants. Look out for wild garlic, yellow archangel, and wood-sorrel. If you walk along the old tramway path, you might spot beautiful Twayblade orchids and broadleaved helleborine flowers.

Wildlife of the Wood

Harston Wood is a busy home for many different birds. Keep your eyes and ears open for woodpeckers tapping on trees. You might also see nuthatches climbing headfirst down tree trunks, or treecreepers spiraling up them as they search for insects. It's a great place to connect with nature and observe local wildlife.