Located in Wick, the 8.39-hectare Golden Valley Nature Reserve is a hidden gem with stunning views, mature woodland and an industrial past.
English oak, beech, ash, whitebeam, lime and the rare wild service tree can be found in the reserve and are all that remains of the far more ancient Kingswood royal hunting forest.
During the mid-eighteenth century, there was an iron-founding industry based on the water power provided by the River Boyd, and there was an ironworks and paper mill within the valley in 1761.
By 1882, a rolling mill and dam were installed across the river, according to the 1882 Ordnance Survey map. Soon after, from 1895 to 1968, ochre (a mixture of fine clay and iron oxide) processing works started in the valley
The buildings were demolished two years later, and the site was cleared and left for nature to reclaim, becoming a wildlife haven. The site was acquired by RMC Materials (now CEMEX) in 1970, who fenced off the area.
The fences fell into disrepair over the years and local people began to use the site for recreation purposes. However, the future of the site became unsure as the site maintenance, accessibility, and health and safety diminished with the growth of scrub on the important grassland areas.
South Gloucester Council intervened in 2001 and funded the clearance of scrub from the grassland at Raven's Rock. A fully-featured Management Plan for the site was created and an access agreement was signed between CEMEX and South Gloucestershire Council, giving people formal access to the former Ochre Works.
The Friends of Wick Golden Valley help with the maintenance of the nature reserve and organise a range of events to help raise awareness of the nature reserve.
Parking is very limited near the nature reserve and the 35 and 620 buses stop next to the main entrance by High Street.
Here are 29 photos from our visit to Wick Golden Valley Nature Reserve:
17. Winding House
The Winding House is a Grade-II listed building that was restored in 2007. Red ochre was extracted from shallow trenches and mines at Rock Road and was conveyed to the winding shed above the ochre works in drams along rails by ponies. It was then carried down to the ochre works by gravity. Ochre was later imported for processing. | National World
18. Stunning Views
We were able to enjoy stunning views of Wick from the hilly fields by the Winding House. | National World
19. Arch Path
Visitors following the Raven's Rock Trail can encounter a beautiful archway as they make their way from the Winding House fields to the Folly Arch. | National World
20. Folly Arch
Hidden in the middle of the woodland walk to the top of Raven's Rock, this relic harks back to the fashionable walks undertaken before much of the landscape was removed by quarrying. | National World