Top wildlife walks

Brockhampton Estate, Herefordshire

Walk through the woodlands at Brockhampton Estate and you will be surrounded by ancient oaks, some of which were planted during the reign of Henry VIII. In the autumn, huge nets are hung under the boughs to harvest acorns and in spring, bluebells and celandine thrive in the shade.

Brockhampton, a medieval manor house, has an agricultural history dating back to the Domesday Book and livestock such as Hereford cattle and unusual black and white Jacob sheep can be spotted on the grounds.

The old apple and damson orchards on the estate are an important habitat for over 1000 species of animal, plant and insect. Redstarts and little owls nest in hollows in the trunks of fruit trees, and dead wood provides food and shelter for insects including the rare mistletoe weevil and the metallic green noble chafer beetle. The orchards are also home to pipistrelle bats, which can be seen flitting across the meadows catching insects at dusk.

Click here for details of this National Trust walk

Photo: Brockhampton Estate in autumn (house not N.T.). © NTPL/David Noton

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