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Devils Spittleful And Rifle Range

This impressive reserve, situated between Kidderminster and Bewdley, covers more than 150 acres. It is jointly managed by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust (which owns the Devil's Spittleful), and Wyre Forest District Council (which owns the Rifle Range), both of which have been designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

The site is one of the few extensive areas of heathland remaining in Worcestershire. It is estimated that nine tenths of heathland has been lost to the county over the last two centuries. In 2007 the Trust acquired a number of fields adjacent to the reserve, which will be restored to create additional habitat.

The reserve is actually a mosaic of habitats that thrive on the acid soils. There are open areas dominated by bell heather, with acid grassland dominated by wavy hair-grass. Other unusual plants include heath dog violet, early forget-me-not and small cudweed. Grey hair grass and buck's-horn plantain can also be found here which is unusual as they are normally associated with coastal regions.

 

Wildlife highlights:

Moths & Butterflies: The combination of heathland, birch/oak woodland and grassland habitats make these reserves attractive to invertebrates, especially butterflies, bees and wasps. Pearl-bordered and silver-washed fritillaries and purple hairstreak are a few of the twenty species of butterfly that can be seen. Over one hundred and sixty species of moth have been recorded including barred tooth striped, grass wave, orange underwing and fox moth.
Fungi: Over one hundred and forty species of fungi have been recorded including pine wood mushroom, honey fungus, oyster mushroom and liberty cap.
Birds: Birds include redstart, tree pipit, cuckoo, wood warbler, lesser whitethroat, green woodpecker and sparrowhawk

 

Location: The reserve can be visited at any time and can be reached on foot from the A456 Kidderminster to Bewdley road via Sandy Lane, a track running southwards immediately east of the entrance to the West Midland Safari Park. Park at the entrance to Sandy Lane. There is also access at the western end of the Rifle Range Road.

These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.