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Rogiet Poor Land Reserve
The Poor Land award of 1855 set
aside 4 acres for use by the 'Labouring Poor'. By the early 1930's the land was
derelict and it was bought by the Trust in 1991 with the help of the Whitbread Beer
Company. It represents a fine example of limestone grassland. Much had become
overgrown with hawthorn and bramble but the trust aims to reinstate the grassland areas
while maintaining the diverse flora and fauna.
Grasslands
The area of limestone grassland is rich in plant life
throughout the summer. From Spring to late Summer many herbs can be seen.
Cowslips, Scarlet Pimpernel, White Campion, St.John's Wort, Ladies Bedstraw and
Small Scabious can be found. In August the Marjoram, Eyebright and Centaury come
alive with Blue and Brown Argus butterflies.
Woodlands
Parts of the Reserve have been wooded for a long time which
has enabled an interesting flora to develop. Bluebells, Dog's Mercury, Sweet Violet,
Common Spotted Orchid, Gromwell and Lords and Ladies can be found. Much of the wood
and scrub on the Reserve has developed from the ungrazed grassland and a wide variety of
shrubs and trees have colonised. These include Aspen, Ash, Birch, Blackthorn,
Dogwood, Spindle and Wild Cherry.
On the southern boundary an area of Ash wood with Hazel
understory has a wide variety of spring flowers including Dog's Mercury, Bluebell, Dog
Violet and Common Spotted Orchid.
Adders
These live and breed on the Reserve and are most likely to be
seen in Spring and early Summer when basking in warm sunshine on the edge of scrub.
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