Quarry Wood

Quarry Wood

Quarry Wood

Explore this wood carefully, it has many stories to tell.

Location

From the A41 Whitchurch/Newport road take the turning north of Hinstock for Hungry Hatton. Park in the lay-by opposite the reserve. It is shown as High Heath on the OS map
Market Drayton
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A static map of Quarry Wood

Know before you go

Size
3 hectares
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Entry fee

No
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Parking information

From the A41 Whitchurch/Newport road take the turning north of Hinstock in to Hatton Road. The lay-by is 200m past the junction.
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Grazing animals

None
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Access

Accessibility: Amber

Entrances are open, and surfaces are generally fairly good and flat, but they can be muddy during wet weather. As a woodland, branches can fall and vegetation can encroach on paths.

Dogs

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Facilities

Accessible trails

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

April to July, September to November

About the reserve

Go to this wood in spring and you find yourself in a flowery bower of rhododendron blossom. Not the conservationist’s favourite plant, rhododendrons are notoriously invasive, while the dense shade cast by their leathery foliage causes woodland plants to wither away. But every plant has its uses and the bushes provide a safe roost for birds in winter.

Look out for goldcrest, greater spotted woodpecker and sparrowhawk. Find the sandstone quarry at the centre of the reserve and you will see pebble beds from ancient rivers in the rock face, formed around 220 million years ago. Fossils and a reconstruction of a small crocodile-like reptile known as Rhynchosaurus that roamed around locally at this time, can be seen in Shrewsbury Museum. Look out for the remains of mediaeval boundaries. Along mounds of earth, trees that were once part of hedgerows grow; their branches twisted, knotted and gnarled. Explore this wood carefully, it has stories to tell.  

Contact us

Location map

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