This 1.3 acre (0.5 ha) woodland nature reserve is situated in a quiet part of the village of Kemerton, close to St Nicholas’s Church. It was formerly an orchard belonging to the well-known countryside author and conservationist, John Moore. In 1980, his widow Lucille dedicated the land as a nature reserve in his memory. Native broadleaf trees were planted among the remaining orchard trees, which have since grown into closed-canopy woodland. Squitter Brook runs along the western edge of the site. KCT took over ownership and management of the reserve in 2001.
Flora and Fauna
The woodland consists of native broadleaf trees – mainly oak and ash – with a coppiced hazel understorey. Among these are veteran apple trees (remnants of the original orchard) laden with mistletoe. Rare marsh tits nest in the woodland, along with other songbirds. Grass snakes are found among the woodpiles and brash. In autumn, an interesting array of fungi can be found in the leaf litter.
A species list of all flora and fauna recorded on site can be found as a pdf file here.
Access Information
OS grid reference: SO 9463 3658. Postcode: GL20 7HY.
John Moore Nature Reserve is open to the public all year round. To get to there, take the short public footpath (KM-540) which begins on the road 130 metres south of St Nicholas’s Church. From the entrance gate, a permissive path leads to a bench in the centre of the site. We regret that in order to avoid disturbance to wildlife, dogs are not permitted.
Although only small, the reserve is a tranquil spot to visit in all seasons and listen to the sounds of wood and stream. |
