Gentleshaw Common

Reserve Walk Reserve Justine Lloyd Justine Gentleshaw Common Land Management Team Co-ordinator Jeff Sim takes you on a tour of the Trust's newest nature reserve, Gentleshaw Common, on the southern edge of Cannock Chase. Historic remains cowberry and beautiful fine grasses Sandy habitat Park in the roadside layby on such as wavy hair grass support a wide Take the path heading to the Common Side opposite the range of insect and bird life. Gentleshaw west of the valley until you reach 1 Common is one of an arc of heathlands 4 Windmill Pub. This is the highest part the electricity pylons. Then follow the of the Common with extensive views in this part of Staffordshire stretching path which contours around the slope to the south and west. The windmill is from Sutton Park on the horizon in here. You will notice the sandy cliffs of a thought to have been constructed in the front of you up to Cannock Chase. disused sandstone quary. In spring and early 1800’s and part of it still visible. Ground-nesting birds such as stonechat, summer these exposed sandy soils are tree pipit and the night-time churring home to countless solitary mining bees, Wildlife haven nightjar need habitats such as this to rare and beautiful pollinators. From the layby take the track nest and rear their young. 2 which heads downhill parallel Conservation in action to the roadside. As you follow the Bogland beauty From the quarry, head back up gently sloping track, you leave behind The footpath heads in a southerly the hill back towards the layby. direction away from the road 5 a small area of open mature woodland. 3 You'll see an area of birch scrub. Birch The landscape then changes and and down into an obvious valley. The and bracken need to be controlled here the open feel of this large heathland habitat noticeably changes here as or they will shade out the more delicate nature reserve becomes apparent. The ground conditions are wetter. This area heathland plants and the rare heathland Common is one of the largest areas of of wet heath is a really special place. Our birds and reptiles would lose the habitat lowland heath in Staffordshire, covering main priority in this area is to reduce they need to live. Lichfield District 86 hectares. Gentleshaw Common’s the dominance of the extensive patch Council has already carried out a large status as one of the UK’s best wildlife of purple moor grass to give rarer wet amount of scrub and bracken control, sites was reflected in its designation as a heath plants such as bog asphodel, cross and the Trust will be carrying on this Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1981. leaved heath, cranberry and sundew a management to ensure the heathland Habitats like this with heather, bilberry, chance to thrive. plants have the best chance to thrive. 12 Staffordshire Wildlife | Autumn Winter 2015 autumn winter 2015 FINAL.indd 12 28/10/2015 10:11:03 Reserve Walk Six to spot Six to Gillian Day Lizzie Wilberforce Lizzie Jon Hawkins Jon Heather Long tailed tit Red deer There are three different species to spot: Look out for flocks of long tailed tits Gentleshaw Common lies within an look for bell heather (above) and ling on foraging along the woodland edges. area that is well known for deer. As you the dry heath and cross leaved heath in Flocks are usually related to each other, travel to the reserve you may see deer the wet valley areas. Heather provides a and they also roost together at night. at the woodland edges, especially in the great nectar source for bees. They eat insects and sometimes seeds. early morning. Justine Lloyd Justine Amy Lewis Amy Maragret Holland Maragret Hawkins Jon Fieldfare Fox Green woodpecker Look for loose flocks of colourful Look for foxes trotting along paths and in These beautiful, shy birds are the fieldfare and redwing in winter the woodland in the early morning. They largest of all the woodpeckers. They searching for berries and other food are solitary animals, but during breeding have a loud, laughing 'yaffle' call and in the heathland or along the scrubby season the male will support the female their diet consists primarily of ants. edges. by bringing food for the family. They tend to feed on the ground. Gentleshaw Common Getting there From Burntwood take Rugeley START Road heading north. Turn right at the Redmore Inn onto Redmore 1 Road and follow to the top of the hill. When you come to a crossroads, turn right and park on a layby a couple of hundred metres on the right. 2 Useful information The walk will take around 1 - 1½ hours. The track is unsurfaced and steep in places, with some flat areas. So that we can protect the wildlife of this special place, we ask that 3 you keep your dog close to you, 5 preferably on a lead, especially between April 1 and June 30, when many birds are nesting. 4 Autumn Winter 2015 | Staffordshire Wildlife 13 autumn winter 2015 FINAL.indd 13 28/10/2015 10:11:06.

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