Moor Copse Nature Reserve


bakers ride
 I am very grateful to the late Brian Baker, for providing the following history notes on how Moor Copse became a Nature Reserve.
bradfield ride

The reserve is entirely due to the late Lewis E. Trevers OBE, an architect who settled in the Pang valley in the middle of the 1930's. Living initially in a garden summer house at weekends, he had his house built on sturdy pillars, avoiding any problems arising from flooded fields. As an extra precaution, he ditched his field boundaries and channelled the sluice run-offs from the River Pang.

 
vinula ride

He cared for his woods and fields with great thoroughness, and would drive his tractor to any part where he wished to work. Having created the new rides, he would erect a board bearing the name of an old friend or group of helpers. (Hodsall Ride, Edwin's piece and Bradfield Ride)

 
Island bridge date
 In 1969, the M4 was to come through the Berkshire countryside. Lewis Trevers contacted the Nature Conservancy with the proposition that he would like his land to become a nature reserve. Brian Baker from BBONT, the local Naturalist's Trust went to meet Lewis, and papers were drawn up for them to look after the reserve for a peppercorn rent of one shilling a year. Lewis organised the work parties, coppicing small parts of the wood, and then the day would end with tea and crumpets for all, in Moor Copse House.
  For the next few years, work continued in the reserve with volunteer wardens appointed, visits from local societies, and the detailed recording of the wildlife began. Whilst clearing a ride through Hogmoor, a Puss moth was found at the base of a tree trunk, and Vinula Ride was named after it.
old sign On the 22nd March 1975, after working in the reserve to create a pond at the end of Bradfield Ride, Lewis had a fall and died 4 days later. He had left the reserve to BBONT in his will so that the Trust became owners of this gem of a place, with Brian Baker as Reserve Manager until 1983. In 1988 the Trust acquired the area known as Barton's Copse, on the southern edge of Moor Copse Wood.
  In October 2006, 72 acres of land to the south of the reserve came up for sale. An appeal was launched and after a huge response from the public, £235,000 was raised and, by the end of the year, the land was bought. It was officially opened by Sir William Benyon, of Englefield Hall, on the 28th April 2007.