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Wildlife at Sarn Hills Ceri
Powys
Wales
Kerry is the nearest town or village.
OS Grid Reference: SO165866
 An upland conifer woodland managed by the Forestry Commission during the mid to late 1970s situated on the Powys/Shropshire boundary with fine views across to Wales & England.
The Kerry Ridgeway long distance footpath runs through the forest and is ideal for family walks & bike rides along its flat hilltop route.
Mammals: Many of the usual forest mammals such as Hares & Rabbits can be seen. Foxes are also common to many of the Welsh woods. The fox is considered to be a solitary animal and will only seek out a vixen in mid winter to mate. During April three to six cubs are born. The father will play with his offspring and at around one month old they will go hunting with their mother. They are quick to learn hunting skills and at two months old will be ready to leave their home. The fox hunts at night and will eat rabbits, rats, mice, voles, squirrels, hedgehogs and pheasants. Along with the odd sighting of Roe Deer & Badgers during the daylight hours if you are lucky. We have information about Roe deer and Badger
Birds: It is possible to see Buzzards flying up in the skies with their dark brown plumage with bars and streaks on the paler underside. It has broad wings with slotted tips, when flying its wings are slightly forward in a shallow V shape. A new visitor to the area is the Red Kite which has spread its hunting area from the valleys of Mid Wales Eastwards to the Welsh marches. This majestic bird is unmistakable as it soars effortlessly on its hunt for food.
The conifer trees provide the ideal habitat for Crossbills & Siskins which can be seen in flocks flying from tree to tree. We have information about Red kite
Insects and reptiles: When the fruit of the bramble shrub has fully matured and become almost mushy it attracts butterflies such as the commas, speckled woods and red admirals. Spiders whose webs can be seen shining among the bramble tangles in the early autumn mists, feed on the flies attracted to the juicy berries.
Blackbirds supplement their diet by feeding on the blackberries and can then be seen wiping their bills on the nearby leaves to get rid of the seeds. This action is called “pip-spitting”. Other woodland mammals that feed on the blackberry shrub include the badger, the yellow-coloured dusty slug and a variety of snails including the grey-bodied banded snail. Habitats: At the far Eastern end of the forest on the Ceri Ridgeway you will come across the Turburry, this is an area of upland heath and is a haven for bird life as well as many heath species of heather and bilberry.
How to get there:
From Newtown take the A489 to Craven Arms. After approx 3 miles you enter the village of Kerry, proceed through the village, turn right onto B4368. Follow the road for approx 3 miles this will bring you to Block Wood, continue along this road, along the edge of Coed Nantyrhynau Wood until you come to the Anchor Public House, turn left until you reach the cross roads where you take a right turn along a rough road (this is a section of the Kerry Ridgeway) the Car Park is 500 metres on your left hand side.
Local Weather Forecast (Multimap) Enter through:
Sarn Hills
Activities:
 
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Open access for horse riders throughout |
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Other places to go in Ceri
Block Wood
Contact:
Nick Whythe
Local Area Manager
0845 604 0845
e-mail: nick.whythe@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
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What's of interest
The long & short ditch archaeological features that cross the Ridgeway path are an old remnant of a field boundary system that once covered this whole area. The Cantlin stone can also be seen just off the Ridgeway path marking the death nearby of William Cantlin, an itinerant who died near this remote spot in 1691.
What to see now You may well see siskins in the forest, they are 12 cm approx long with the males having a bright yellow-green body with a black crown, the females have a grey-green with streaky breast and yellow tail edges. They build their nests in the conifer trees and during the winter months can be seen feeding from the alder and birch trees.
Did you know Hares are larger than their relatives the rabbit, they have longer ears and longer hind legs. They are tawny coloured with the upper parts of their body a mixture of grey and brown. Hares spend the daytime hours in “forms” , these are shallow depressions under cover. They feed during the twilight hours on grass roots and bark. When they are disturbed they will stand up and then dash away at the last moment. The mad hares of March are the males, which bound, kick and stand on their hind legs to box each other in a ritual that impresses the females before mating.
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