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Presteigne is the nearest town or village.
OS Grid Reference: SO 213609
Radnor is a diverse woodland area of approx 1800ha rising up to a height of nearly 2000ft. The wood emcompasses varied woodland types from upland spruce plantations on its higher ground to Larch, Douglas Fir and Broadleaved areas in the more sheltered valey sides. Radnor was once a Royal hunting ground the forest forms a central high point in the Radnorshire Marches. It is said that from the top of the Black Mixen Hill at the forest high point the next highest point you come to is the Russian Urals!
Mammals: This varied woodland offers the ideal habitat for several woodland mammals. It is possible to see foxes, badgers, rabbits, hares and roe deer in the area. The 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. They feed during the twilight hours on grass roots and bark. Foxes are woodland mammals, a male 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. We have information about Roe deer and Badger
Birds: When visiting the woodland areas it is possible to see a wide variety of birds. The Buzzard is the largest commoner British bird of prey, now widespread in the western hill districts. Often you can see half a dozen or so birds soaring overhead, with their broad wings they can look like giant moths, they utter a loud gull-like pee-oo cry. If you are lucky you may well see the Goshawk dashing through the trees in pursuit of prey. The Goshawk feeds on squirrels, rabbits and birds, pigeons and crows. The Goshawk builds its nest in fir trees and usually adds to it each year, the female usually lays between 3 and 5 grey green eggs, which sometimes have brown spots. The Hen Harriers are also present. These are the only birds of prey to have significantly increased their numbers in recent years. The male is a striking blue-grey bird and reaches between 44-52 cms on maturity. The female is distinctive with her white rump. They can be seen, appearing to be leisurely flyers, though when in search of food can be very systematic in their approach. They surprise their prey and seize it with their long legs. They feast on birds, frogs and snakes. The hen-harrier makes their nest on the open moorland, the nests are well hidden and 4 or 5 eggs are laid between April and June. During the breeding season the male does most of the hunting and brings food to within a short distance of the nest. The female then rises and takes the food from her mate whilst still in the air, foot to foot, flying upside down to do so.
Insects and reptiles: Aphids are to be found sucking the sap from the young blackberry shrub shoots. Other woodland animals that feed on the blackberry shrub include the yellow-coloured dusty slug and a variety of snails including the grey-bodied banded snail.
The later summer months brings the common wasp to the bramble shrub to feed on the sugars contained within the berries. They bite through the skin of the individual fruits to reach the juicy flesh inside. Once the skin has been successfully pierced then other insects begin to swarm to the fruit. Both the metallic greenbottle flies and the grey-haired red-eyed flesh flies are visitors, they feed by dribbling saliva on to the fruit which partly digests the flesh which they can then suck up in the form of juice.
Habitats: Radnor forest offers conifer and broadleaved habitats. On the higher hill ground upland heath areas have developed providing a valuable habitat for wildlife and nesting areas for heathland birds.
How to Get There:
Radnor Forest is located between the A488 and A44.
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Places to go in Radnor
Radnor Wood
Nash Wood
Warren Wood
Smatcher Wood
Cwm Broadwell
Burfa Wood
Facilities:
Activities:
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Other places to go in this area
Ceri
Clwyd
Coed Sarnau
Dyfnant
Hafren
Hiraethog Forest
Mathrafal
Contact
Nick Whythe
Local Area Manager
0300 068 0300
e-mail: nick.whythe@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
What's of interest
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”.
What to see now
The shield bug is one of the few insects that care for its young. During the summer months the females can be seen on a leaf with her brood of 30-40 babies. When she senses danger she can be seen herding them to safety under the leaf while she stays on top to act as a decoy.
Did you know
The colour of a badger's faeces varies according to the type of food available; it's brown if they've been eating earthworms, yellow if they've been eating corn and purple if they've been gorging on berries!
What else is here
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