About the Flora & Fauna at Puzzlewood

Puzzlewood is home to a wide variety of trees – oak, beech, ash, lime and yew can all be found in the wood. Yew has a particular liking for iron and its roots will actively seek out the veins of iron ore – look out for the fantastic root formations. Farmers used to say that ‘a yew tree post will outlast a post of iron’ and yew is very hard and durable wood. We use fallen yew branches to make and maintain our fences and bridges.

Puzzlewood through the seasons

The wood changes throughout the year. In early spring Puzzlewood is fresh with the bright green of new growth. Birdsong fills the air and the smell of wild garlic is everywhere. In late spring the bluebells carpet the ground and the sight is incredible. Make sure you follow us on social media to check when they’re out – don’t miss your chance to see bluebells in all their glory!

In the summer months, the bluebells give way to lush clumps of ferns, predominantly the Soft Shield Fern and the Harts Tongue Fern. Autumn brings a wide range of fungi growing on old tree stumps. Always present throughout the year if the soft and feathery moss that covers the rocks are covered in feathery moss – if looks particularly lush after rain.

The wood is home to deer, badgers, foxes, rabbits and a wide variety of birds. Nearby, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, are Old Bow and Old Ham Mines, home to protected colonies of both the greater and lesser horseshoe bat. If you’re visiting Puzzlewood later in the day, you may be lucky enough to see bats hunting as dusk falls.

Please respect the wildlife. We are merely visitors to creatures for whom Puzzlewood is their home. The beauty of Puzzlewood is, in essence, due to its unmanaged and natural appearance – keeping to the pathways ensures your visit is safe, but it also means that future generations will also get to enjoy that same beauty.