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taken from info by Natural England citation and GWT nature reserves handbook
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taken from info by Natural England citation and GWT nature reserves handbook
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'''Midger''' ({{gbmapping|ST797895}}) is a {{convert|65.7|ha|adj=on}} [[biological Site of Special Scientific Interest]] straddling the border of [[Gloucestershire]] and [[South Gloucestershire]], [[SSSI notification|notified]] in 1966 and renotified in 1984. The last revision in 1974 reduced the size to a{{convert|40.9|ha|adj=on}} site. It lies east of [[Hillesley]], Gloucestershire and north of [[Hawkesbury Upton]], South Gloucestershire. It is at the head of the Kilcott Valley. |
'''Midger''' ({{gbmapping|ST797895}}) is a {{convert|65.7|ha|adj=on}} [[biological Site of Special Scientific Interest]] straddling the border of [[Gloucestershire]] and [[South Gloucestershire]], [[SSSI notification|notified]] in 1966 and renotified in 1984. The last revision in 1974 reduced the size to a {{convert|40.9|ha|adj=on}} site. It lies east of [[Hillesley]], Gloucestershire and north of [[Hawkesbury Upton]], South Gloucestershire. It is at the head of the Kilcott Valley. |
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Part of the site is part owned (and managed) by the [[Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust]]. |
Part of the site is part owned (and managed) by the [[Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust]]. |
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| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 | |
| Location | Avon and Gloucestershire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | ST797895 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 65.7 hectare |
| Notification | 1966 |
| Location map | Natural England |
Midger (grid reference ST797895) is a 65.7-hectare (162-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest straddling the border of Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, notified in 1966 and renotified in 1984. The last revision in 1974 reduced the size to a 40.9-hectare (101-acre) site. It lies east of Hillesley, Gloucestershire and north of Hawkesbury Upton, South Gloucestershire. It is at the head of the Kilcott Valley.
Part of the site is part owned (and managed) by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.
Fuller information is available from the Wildlife Trust reserves handbook, the Midger reserve publication and the Nature Reserves Guide for 2011.[1] The reserve comprises Midger Wood which was purchased by the Trust in 1965, Back Common, Whitewell Wood, Twizzle Well Piece, Wedgewood and Saddlewood Roughs, which is part of the Badminton Estate.
This is ancient woodland and has a canopy comprising mainly Ash (including coppiced stools), Pedunculate Oak and Field Maple, and some Crab Apple and Holly. There has been some interplanting with Beech, Scots Pine, Spruce and Larch. The understorey is dominated by Hazel. This also contains Goat Willow and Dogwood.
Herb-Paris, Green Hellebore and Lily-of-the-valley grow amongst Bluebell, Yellow Archangel, Wood Anemone, Ramsons(wood garlic), Wood-sorrel and many ferns to produce a luxuriant ground layer.
The stream (Kilcott Brook) which is one of the features of the reserve is fringed by Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage and Pendulous Sedge. It has small waterfalls; some of them petrified with calcaerous tufa deposits. The damp valley bottom below Saddlewood Roughs supports Butterbur in the spring and Meadow Saffron in the autumn.
There are small glades in the Hawthorn and Blackthorn thickets in Back Common which indicates this area's past use as common grazing land. The rough banks in the north of the reserve have a typical limestone grassland flora including Wild Thyme, Common Rock-rose and Early-purple Orchid.
There are good populations of butterflies including Chalkhill Blue, Marbled White, Green Hairstreak and the Duke of Burgundy Fritillary. The diversity of habitats supports the bird life. In the woods Treecreeper, Little Owl, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Marsh Tit, Wood Warbler and Goldcrest have been recorded. In the stream area Dipper and Grey Wagtail have been recorded. In the rough grassland areas Meadow Pipit and Yellowhammer have been recorded.
Other notable species are Yellow-necked Field Mouse, Common Dormouse and Fallow Deer. Nest boxes support the Dormouse population.
Conservation work in the reserve includes coppicing of Hazel, thinning of young Ash, and clearing of invasive scrub such as Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Oak in areas designated as open grassland.
In March 1995 HRH Prince of Wales visited the Midger SSSI reserve, being one of the protected woodland reserves in the county. The guided walk included a demonstration of the production of barbecue charcoal from coppiced and fallen timber, a new Wildlife Trust venture at that time.[2]
51°36′14″N 2°17′40″W / 51.60397°N 2.29451°W / 51.60397; -2.29451
