Limestone, Lions and Landfill: An Exploration of Great Doward

Guided, interpretative walk to begin to explore geology, history, biodiversity and management of Great Doward Hill.

Join HWT for a guided walk of some beautiful nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest and discover more about the remains which have been found there.

The Doward Hills is around a thousand acres in size and is made up of two areas – The Great Doward and the Little Doward. The Doward lies at the heart of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is home to some amazing wildlife. Much of this area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and managed as Nature Reserves.

The Doward is a patchwork of woodland, hedgerows and small fields. Here you will find ancient features and native woodlands, caves, remnants of old quarries, pasture, wildflower meadow, relicts of heathland and a hillfort. There are also small areas of limestone pavement, a small wetland with tufa springs and riverbank vegetation.

This wonderful mix of habitats supports an astonishing diversity of wildlife with over 5,468 different species recorded in the area. Rare species such as the wood white, grizzled skipper and white admiral butterflies, wood warblers, hawfinches and lesser spotted woodpeckers all breed here. Over 600 species of plant and 1,500 species of fungi grow on the Doward including three species that haven’t been found at any other site in the world.  Many rare insects can also be found in open areas. These species are vulnerable to disturbance and habitat damage.

Suitable for teenagers and adults.