Our Reserves
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Holly Wood
(Grid reference SK173430)
Location: Near Edlaston village
Nearest Town: Ashbourne
Grid reference: SK 173430 (OS Landranger 128 Derby & Burton upon Trent)
How to get there: The reserve is immediately south of the minor road between the A515 Ashbourne-Uttoxeter road and Edlaston village. Park in the disused road near the A515 and follow the road towards Edlaston to reach the reserve entrance
Visit Holly Wood in spring to enjoy the fine display of bluebells, which includes some white-flowered ones. They flourish in the drier areas of this woodland reserve, where sycamore is gradually being replaced with oak and other native broadleaved species.
Other plants that flourish here include wood sedge, while the marshy areas of woodland in the northern part of the reserve support communities of marsh marigold and opposite leaved golden saxifrage.
Although its history is unclear, it is possible that much of the reserve may have been a gravel working - this would explain the ridges that occur in the ground, as well as the areas of marsh and the pond.
The woodland provides a breeding area for many bird species, including blackcap, garden warbler and nuthatch. Badgers and foxes find refuge here too - there is one large badger sett and several fox earths.