Highwood, Wokingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Highwood |
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| Type | Local Nature Reserve |
| Location | Woodley, Berkshire |
| OS grid | SU 750 725 |
| Area | 15.2 hectares (38 acres) |
| Managed by | Wokingham Borough Council |
Highwood is a special natural area in Woodley, a town west of Wokingham in Berkshire, England. It covers about 15.2 hectares (that's like 37 football fields!). This important place is officially known as a Local Nature Reserve, which means it's protected for its wildlife and natural beauty. Wokingham Borough Council owns Highwood, and they work with a group called The Friends of Highwood to look after it.
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Discover Highwood Nature Reserve
Highwood is a wonderful place to explore nature. It's a mix of different types of lowland woodland, which means it has many trees that grow well in lower, flatter areas. There's also a special heathland area, which is a type of open land with small shrubs and grasses.
Unique Trees at Highwood
What makes Highwood even more interesting are some of the unusual trees you can find there. These trees are not native to the area. They were planted a long time ago as part of an arboretum. An arboretum is like a tree garden, where different kinds of trees are collected and grown, often for scientific study or just for beauty. These special trees were once part of the large grounds of a place called Woodley Lodge.
A Glimpse into Highwood's History
Highwood wasn't always a nature reserve. Long ago, it was part of the big estate belonging to Woodley Lodge. Imagine a grand house with large gardens and woodlands – Highwood was once part of that private property. Over time, it became the protected natural space we know today, allowing everyone to enjoy its beauty and wildlife.
Amazing Animals of Highwood
Highwood is home to many different animals, especially birds! Birdwatchers love visiting this reserve because of the variety of species that live here or stop by.
Birds of Highwood
You might be lucky enough to spot some of these feathered friends:
- Common merganser: A type of duck often seen diving for fish.
- Common pochard: Another diving duck, known for its reddish head.
- Northern shoveler: This duck has a large, shovel-shaped bill it uses to filter food from the water.
- Grey heron: A tall, elegant bird often seen standing still by water, waiting to catch fish.
- Grey wagtail: A small, colorful bird that wags its tail a lot.
- Eurasian treecreeper: A tiny bird that spirals up tree trunks looking for insects.
- Great spotted woodpecker: You might hear its drumming sound as it pecks at trees.
- Common kingfisher: A flash of bright blue and orange as it darts over water.
Wonderful Plants of Highwood
Besides the diverse trees, Highwood also has many other interesting plants. The mix of woodland and heathland means there's a good variety of plant life.
Special Trees in Highwood
Among the many trees, two types of exotic trees stand out because they are quite rare in the UK:
- Araucaria araucana: Also known as the Monkey Puzzle tree, famous for its spiky, scale-like leaves.
- Sequoiadendron giganteum: This is the Giant Sequoia, one of the largest trees in the world, though the ones at Highwood are much smaller than their giant relatives in California!
