Moor Copse Nature Reserve

This Berkshire reserve forms a part of the Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Fringing the beautiful River Pang, Moor Copse nature reserve appeals to walkers and natural historians alike. This ancient woodland is a place of character, variety and great beauty, with its 70 acres comprising of three wet woodland copses, a small meadow and a healthy chalk stream. At the end of 2006 the site was extended by another 72 acres of meadows, hedgerows and small copses.

Work parties

Please meet the leader in the car park, on Sunday morning at 10am.

February 14th.

  • Read more here

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    Work party bonfire, December.

    Sunday December 13th - We carried on working in the 2 coppice plots, both groups coming together at lunchtime to warm up around the bonfire and eat baked potatoes. A Buzzard circled quite low above us. In the afternoon the sun came out and the light looked lovely shining on the field and through the trees.

    Sunday November 8th - A record 24 volunteers came out today. We split into 2 groups, one continued in the coppice plot by 5 acre field, while the other made a start on an area near the pond. We saw quite a few different fungi, probably helped by the recent wet and warm weather.

    Sunday October 11th - The day started dry but contrary to all weather forecasts, a fine, misty rain set in and lasted until we'd finished work, easing off as we got back to the car park! We cut an area of Hazel near the boardwalk to let in more light to the riverbank, and finished coppicing a water's edge Sallow left from last time. We then made a start on the area of coppice begun last winter. A Muntjac was seen in the ride near the pond.

    Happy New Year!

    Robin Ash logs Lichen Fungi. photo taken by Chin Yee Oak leaves

    Anne's Notes

    February 4th - The Mid Week team were out today continuing with the coppicing in Moor Copse wood. On their way in, they saw a Little Egret in Arable field - possibly a first sighting for the reserve. I saw a busy flock of about 30 Siskins in the top of an Alder in Park Wood and heard quite a lot of Robin and Great Tit song. A Green Woodpecker and a couple of Mallards in a flooded area of Cottage field were the only other signs of life on this very damp,gray day.

    January 16th - Our first visit since the heavy snow of 10 days ago. Many of the paths and fields were still white, useful for seeing deer, fox and badger tracks. The Pang was very high and will probably spill over into Hogmoor Copse in a day or two. Not many birds to be seen apart from an occasional Redwing, Nuthatch and Green Woodpecker. An ivy covered tree has come down across the riverbank path near the Island.

    Looking towards Barton's field in January.

    December 17th - The mid-week team (a volunteer group run from the Berks office) were working today, so I joined them for their Christmas barbeque plus some coppicing in Moor Copse wood. They are enlarging an area that a hedgelayer has been cutting. The sheep have gone from the reserve now, also most of the cattle, though a few have been moved to Wigley field but they should have gone before the New Year. We saw a small group of Siskins, but otherwise all was quiet.

    October 25th - Signs of autumn very noticeable now with the leaves of Oak, Hazel, Cherry and Hawthorn changing colour. We saw a few last flowers of bramble, Comfrey and thistle, and also next years catkins well formed on Hazel. A couple of Buzzards few over the extension fields. The cattle have been moved to River meadow. The sheep grazing in Arable field, still seem to prefer the north-east corner close to 5 acre.

    October 6th - On a brief walk round with the Reserves Manager, Andy Phillips, we saw the contractor's sheep now grazing the arable field, and also the assortment of Hereford cross & British White cattle which are now having the run of all the extension fields except River meadow, where they will be moved to shortly.

    Compressed images taken by Anne

    Web site designed by Martin Raper
    now maintained by Anne & John Booth.

    © 2009 Moor Copse N R

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