1. Wye Valley AONB and Forest of Dean

Lower Wye Valley and Forest of Dean, - the history of the landscape and its effects on the vegetation.

Leader George Peterken.

Both the Lower Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean has always been very well wooded by British standards. The valley woods have a long history of coppicing, but during the 20th century most have been allowed to grow into high forest. The Dean, in contrast, has been a wood-pasture, but since the 17th century much has been converted to plantations. Both districts were centres of early industry and tourism.

The excursion will enable visitors to sample the ancient coppice woods of the valley and a remaining fragment of wood-pasture in the Dean, and appreciate the wider landscapes of which they are part. We will also be able to visit the impressive remains of Tintern Abbey. Permission will also be sought to visit the Verderers' Court, from which the Dean was governed.

Itinerary

• Arrive at top car park at the Wyndcliff and walk to the spectacular Eagle's Nest viewpoint. See the landscape of the lower Wye gorge (a tidal river running through wooded limestone gorge).
• Walk down the "365 steps" to the lower car park, passing through beech-yew woodland on the limestone cliff into mixed deciduous woodland of small-leaved lime, ash, sessile oak, wych elm, etc on limestone. See on the way some of the remnants of the Piercefield Walks, an 18th century promenade and a focus for Picturesque tourism.
• Drive to Tintern Abbey. Lunch and opportunity to visit the abbey ruins.
• Drive up valley to Monmouth, then to Staunton and on to Speech House in the Forest of Dean . See the remnants of oak-beech-holly wood-pasture on acid Coal Measures and also Speech House (the former administrative centre of the Forest, now a hotel) and possibly enter the Verderers' Court room. Leave to drive through Forest of Dean.

The walk down from the Eagle's Nest is steep and should not be taken by anyone who suffers from vertigo.