Springdale Farm Reserve
At an
altitude of 100-150m, this working farm offers superb views across the Usk
valley up to the Brecon Beacons and down to the Severn Estuary, and a
diverse range of habitats from flower-rich hay meadows and butterfly slopes
to semi-natural woodland and bracken fields. The intention of the Gwent
Wildlife Trust is to maintain and increase the conservation and landscape
value of the area whilst continuing to operate a livestock farm.
The diverse 49ha reserve consists of a series of pastures and some
broad-leaved woodland, occupying the eastern side of the upper part
of a valley 5km east of Usk. 30% of the reserve comprises unimproved
neutral grassland, 25% semi-natural woodland located along a
stream-filled dingle. There is also a south-west facing slope of
slightly poorer grassland and some bracken fields. A thin band of
limestone bedrock runs through the reserve, resulting in an
increased diversity of plants and insects.
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In Spring both the meadows and woodland have a fine
display of flowers, with Early Purple Orchids, Wood
Anenome, Bluebells and Moschatel conspicuous. It is in
Summer that the hay meadows are at their most
spectacular: Common Spotted Orchids and Pepper Saxifrage
abound and there is the largest county population of
Dyer’s Greenweed as well as common Twayblade and
Helleborines. The south-west grass slopes retain herb
species in the short sward and in July and August swarm
with a colourful display of Burnet Moths and butterflies
(Marbled White, Common Blue, Ringlet etc) in numbers
which are sadly rare these days.
Autumn is notable for the display of fungi, with red, green and
yellow species of Waxcap, amongst others, in abundance.
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