The woodlands of the valley bottom are mainly oak and ash, with alder along the river banks and many fine old beech trees planted over 100 years ago. The wildflowers of the woodland areas are at their best in spring, before the trees create too much shade. Lesser celandine and wood anemone carpet the ground in March and April, followed by the white heads of ramsons (wild garlic) and sheets of bluebells in May. Did you know that bluebells are found only in Europe and are rare outside Britain?

Wire Mill Dam is an important breeding site for toads, and frogs spawn in several of the dams. Mammals found in the valley include grey squirrels, foxes, badgers, stoats and voles. If you watch the dams on a warm summer evening you should see one or more of 6 species of bat swooping over the water as they feed.
But the most obvious wildlife are the birds. Mallard, coot (with their white foreheads) and the smaller moorhen are common on the dams. Early or late in the day you will often see a lone heron standing statue-still in a dam or the brook, waiting to spear a fish for dinner. Something like a blackbird, but with a white chest, flying fast and low along the brook, or seen bobbing underwater to catch insects will be a dipper - the bird on our logo. And if you're lucky you may catch the turquoise flash of a kingfisher.


Dipper photo ( below middle )  by Paul Hobson
In the woodlands, the noisy colonies of rooks are unmistakable and in early spring you'll hear Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming out their territorial tattoos. Jays and nuthatches are two other common and colourful residents.