About the reserve

Court Wood is predominately oak and ash with hazel and bramble in the understorey.  Honeysuckle is particularly abundant and the drier upper slopes have large drifts of typical ancient woodland indicators such as bluebell, sanicle, primrose and wood sorrel. The wood was thinned in 1999/2000 and 2020/2021 and these spring-flowering plants have thrived from the extra light now reaching the woodland floor.

A spring issuing from the head of the gully contains tufa deposits and is lime-enriched. The permanently damp slopes of the gully are ideal for ferns, including male fern, hard fern and common polypody.

The reserve provides nesting sites and shelter for various woodland birds, including buzzard, great spotted woodpecker and tree warblers.