Wildlife at Warren Wood

 

Mammals: The forest provides an ideal environment for many of the traditional woodland mammals. It is possible to see foxes, rabbits, hares, badgers, and rose deer. Also, Stoats are one of the most common carnivorous mammals, male stoats are slender, have a black tip to their tails, they are about 17” long and they are bigger than weasels. During the summer their coats are red-brown on top with a white underside. Stoats make their den in wooded areas where they settle in hollow trees or old rabbit burrows. The females produce on e litter usually up to six in number. They remain with their parents and hunt as a family pack. Their main diet consists of hares and vermin (rats, mice and voles). They have poor eyesight, though their hearing and smell senses are highly developed. They kill their prey by a bite behind the neck and are relentless in pursuit of their prey. More commonly seen during the day are the Grey squirrels which are bigger than the red squirrel, being approx 10" long with a less bushy 8" tail. Grey squirrels attack trees in early summer gnawing at the main trunk, in search of the sweet sappy layers immediately beneath the bark. We have information about Roe deer and Badger

Birds: The wood provides food and habitat for many of the common woodland birds, including finches, tits, cross bill and siskin. In addition the
blackbird is very common in both rural and urban areas. The male has a shiny black plumage and grows to 25 cms , it has a distinctive yellow eye and yellow beak. The female of the species is not as attractive it is brown. They make their nest in a variety of locations and mainly constructed dried grasses reinforced with mud. The blackbird will often manage to rear four broods in a single season. They feed on many insects, worms and seeds.
The Hen Harriers are also to be seen flying in the skies above the wood. 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: Bramble shrubs are found in even the most dense of woodlands. They can be erect, sprawling or rambling. Once the bramble is established a whole host of insects and birds visit and feed on the blossom and fruit. Aphids are to be found sucking the sap from the young shoots. The shield bug is one of the few insects that care for its young. During July the females can be seen on a leaf with her brood of 30-40 babies. Once her alarm has been activated she can be seen herding them to safety under the leaf while she stays on top to act as a decoy.
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: Whilst Warren Wood provides for conifer and broadleaved woodland habitats, it is also a micro-climate. The Waterfall ravine supports numerous species of lichen, ferns and mosses.

How to get there:
Situated on the A44 Kington to Llandrindod Wells road. Approx just over a mile after New Radnor turn right into a council Car Park (Brown tourist sign). Once inside the car park follow the Forestry Commission signage to the Forestry Commission car park.

Local Weather Forecast (Multimap)

Enter through:
Warren Wood

	Open access for horse riders throughout this area.

Contact:
Nick Whythe
Local Area Manager
0845 604 0845
e-mail: nick.whythe@forestry.gsi.gov.uk