The Birches

Wood, Forest in Gloucestershire Forest of Dean

England

The Birches

Sheep at Moseley Green Sheep taking advantage of the shade at Moseley Green.
Sheep at Moseley Green Credit: Philip Halling

The Birches, located in Gloucestershire, is a picturesque wood or forest known for its natural beauty and diverse ecosystem. Spanning over a vast area, it offers a serene and tranquil environment for visitors to explore and enjoy the wonders of nature.

The wood is predominantly made up of birch trees, which lend their name to the area. These tall, elegant trees with their distinctive silver-white bark create a stunning visual spectacle, especially during the winter months when the landscape is covered in a blanket of snow.

The Birches is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. Visitors can expect to encounter a wide range of animal species, including birds, squirrels, deer, and even the occasional fox or badger. The forest floor is also adorned with a colorful carpet of wildflowers during the spring and summer months.

Various walking trails and paths wind their way through The Birches, offering visitors the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the beauty of the surroundings. These trails cater to different levels of difficulty, ensuring that everyone, from casual walkers to experienced hikers, can enjoy the wood at their own pace.

In addition to its natural beauty, The Birches also has historical significance. It is believed to have been a popular hunting ground for ancient civilizations, as evidenced by the remnants of old hunting lodges and ancient burial mounds that can still be found within the wood.

Overall, The Birches in Gloucestershire is a captivating destination, blending natural beauty, wildlife, and history to create an unforgettable experience for all who visit.

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

The Birches Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.767463/-2.5461545 or Grid Reference SO6207. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Sheep at Moseley Green Sheep taking advantage of the shade at Moseley Green.
Sheep at Moseley Green
Sheep taking advantage of the shade at Moseley Green.
Dilapidated cottage Dilapidated cottage at Moseley Green.
Dilapidated cottage
Dilapidated cottage at Moseley Green.
Air shaft Air shaft on a tunnel on the former Severn and Wye Railway.
Air shaft
Air shaft on a tunnel on the former Severn and Wye Railway.
Forest track Forest track near Parkend.
Forest track
Forest track near Parkend.
Church of St Paul, Parkend The Church of St Paul at Parkend was built in 1822 to a design by Henry Poole.  The church is unusual with an octagonal nave.  The church is Grade II listed, see: <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1186362" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1186362">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Church of St Paul, Parkend
The Church of St Paul at Parkend was built in 1822 to a design by Henry Poole. The church is unusual with an octagonal nave. The church is Grade II listed, see: LinkExternal link
Parkend Station Parkend Station on the Dean Forest Railway, a rail preservation railway.  The level crossing gate is reputedly the longest such gate in the country.
Parkend Station
Parkend Station on the Dean Forest Railway, a rail preservation railway. The level crossing gate is reputedly the longest such gate in the country.
Level crossing at Parkend The crossing gate is reputedly the longest in the country.
Level crossing at Parkend
The crossing gate is reputedly the longest in the country.
Parkend Station  Parkend Station, the northern terminus of the Dean Forest Railway.
Parkend Station
Parkend Station, the northern terminus of the Dean Forest Railway.
Dean Field Studies Centre Dean Field Studies Centre is owned by Bristol City Council.  The building was built in 1849 as the Blowing Engine House for the ironworks in Parkend and is one of the best surviving examples.
Dean Field Studies Centre
Dean Field Studies Centre is owned by Bristol City Council. The building was built in 1849 as the Blowing Engine House for the ironworks in Parkend and is one of the best surviving examples.
Dean Field Studies Centre Dean Field Studies Centre is owned by Bristol City Council.  The building was built in 1849 as the Blowing Engine House for the ironworks in Parkend and is one of the best surviving examples.
Dean Field Studies Centre
Dean Field Studies Centre is owned by Bristol City Council. The building was built in 1849 as the Blowing Engine House for the ironworks in Parkend and is one of the best surviving examples.
Former toll house The Pike House, built as a turnpike house.  A 19th century former toll house which was enlarged in the early 20th century.   The house stands on the junction of the B4431 and the road to Bream.  The house is Grade II listed, see: <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1299231" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1299231">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Former toll house
The Pike House, built as a turnpike house. A 19th century former toll house which was enlarged in the early 20th century. The house stands on the junction of the B4431 and the road to Bream. The house is Grade II listed, see: LinkExternal link
Yorkley Recreation Ground The football pitch was created by miners on land donated by the Forestry authorities in the early 20th century.
We are about to have a summer deluge.
Yorkley Recreation Ground
The football pitch was created by miners on land donated by the Forestry authorities in the early 20th century. We are about to have a summer deluge.
New Fancy Colliery - remains of pumping machinery New Fancy was a colliery that operated from 1852 to 1944 with up to 700 workers and a peak production of 500 tons/day. During shaft consolidation work the remains of two pump bobs were revealed. This one is part buried, broken and projects from the ground while the other (not seen here) has been displaced and is lying on it side. Unfortunately the undergrowth looks to be reclaiming them. There is a masonry wall representing the pit bank beyond and at the bottom is a sign revealing the site of the screens.
New Fancy Colliery - remains of pumping machinery
New Fancy was a colliery that operated from 1852 to 1944 with up to 700 workers and a peak production of 500 tons/day. During shaft consolidation work the remains of two pump bobs were revealed. This one is part buried, broken and projects from the ground while the other (not seen here) has been displaced and is lying on it side. Unfortunately the undergrowth looks to be reclaiming them. There is a masonry wall representing the pit bank beyond and at the bottom is a sign revealing the site of the screens.
New Fancy Colliery - remains of pumping machinery New Fancy was a colliery that operated from 1852 to 1944 with up to 700 workers and a peak production of 500 tons/day. During shaft consolidation work the remains of two pump bobs were revealed. One (not seen here) is part buried and projects from the ground while this one has been displaced and is lying on it side. Unfortunately the undergrowth looks to be reclaiming them. This is an L-shaped bob with attached bearings. There is a masonry wall representing the pit bank beyond and at the bottom is a sign revealing the site of the screens.

There is a better presented example at Foxes Bridge Colliery.
New Fancy Colliery - remains of pumping machinery
New Fancy was a colliery that operated from 1852 to 1944 with up to 700 workers and a peak production of 500 tons/day. During shaft consolidation work the remains of two pump bobs were revealed. One (not seen here) is part buried and projects from the ground while this one has been displaced and is lying on it side. Unfortunately the undergrowth looks to be reclaiming them. This is an L-shaped bob with attached bearings. There is a masonry wall representing the pit bank beyond and at the bottom is a sign revealing the site of the screens. There is a better presented example at Foxes Bridge Colliery.
New Fancy Colliery - plaque This plaque is on the site of No. 2 Shaft of the colliery that operated from 1852-1944. Just behind the plaque is part of the pumping machinery that drained the mine. This area is becoming sadly overgrown.
New Fancy Colliery - plaque
This plaque is on the site of No. 2 Shaft of the colliery that operated from 1852-1944. Just behind the plaque is part of the pumping machinery that drained the mine. This area is becoming sadly overgrown.
Forest of Dean geomap at New Fancy At the former New Fancy colliery, this map has been laid out showing the geology of the Forest of Dean, with a key on a plaque beside it (not included in this view).
Forest of Dean geomap at New Fancy
At the former New Fancy colliery, this map has been laid out showing the geology of the Forest of Dean, with a key on a plaque beside it (not included in this view).
Parkend railway station
Parkend railway station
Dean Forest Railway near Parkend Class 14 No. D9521 approaches Parkend during the Dean Forest Railway's delayed 50th anniversary gala.
Dean Forest Railway near Parkend
Class 14 No. D9521 approaches Parkend during the Dean Forest Railway's delayed 50th anniversary gala.
Show me another place!

The Birches is located at Grid Ref: SO6207 (Lat: 51.767463, Lng: -2.5461545)

Administrative County: Gloucestershire

District: Forest of Dean

Police Authority: Gloucestershire

What 3 Words

///daunted.cover.immunity. Near Bream, Gloucestershire

Related Wikis

Parkend railway station

Parkend railway station is located in the village of Parkend, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. It is currently the northern terminus of the Dean...

Parkend

Parkend is a village, located at the foot of the Cannop Valley, in the Royal Forest of Dean, West Gloucestershire, England, and has a history dating back...

Parkend Ironworks

Parkend Ironworks, also known as Parkend Furnace, in the village of Parkend, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England, was a coke-fired furnace...

Oakenhill Railway Cutting

Oakenhill Railway Cutting (grid reference SO630069) is a 0.81-hectare (2.0-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified...

Nagshead

Nagshead is a woodland reserve, located on the western edge of Parkend, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, and is home to RSPB Nagshead. The site...

Pillowell

Pillowell is a small English village in Gloucestershire, on the south-eastern edge of the Forest of Dean. Once a mining village, much of it now lies in...

Yorkley

Yorkley is a village in west Gloucestershire, England. The village includes the settlement of Yorkley Slade to the east. Yorkley is situated between the...

Whitecroft

Whitecroft is a village in the Forest of Dean in west Gloucestershire, England. It is located in-between Bream and Yorkley. Whitecroft comes under the...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.767463,-2.5461545
Bench
Source: Bing
Lat/Long: 51.7661597/-2.5526777
Natural: spring
Source: OS 1:25k
Lat/Long: 51.7663281/-2.5430178
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

Have you been to The Birches?

Leave your review of The Birches below (or comments, questions and feedback).