The limestone rock at Wren's Nest has given rise to the distinct range of habitats and species of plants and animals that are found on the nature reserve today. When quarrying ceased, the bare rock surfaces left behind were exposed to weathering by wind, rain and frost. As the process of weathering continued, mosses and lichens colonised the bare rocks, forming pockets of soil in cracks and hollows. Soon enough soil accumulated for seeds, blown in by the wind or dropped by birds to germinate and slowly the bare rock became colonised by plants.
Limestone grasslands are usually rich in different species of wild flowers, and early summer at Wren's Nest is marked by fine displays of yellow, pink and white, with a great variety of plant forms and leaf shapes. Many of these plants are locally rare and Wren's Nest is one of the few places in the West Midlands where attractive plants like Small Scabious (as shown in the above picture) , Milkwort, Quaking Grass and Hoary Plantain can be seen.
The limestone grassland at Wren's Nest also supports good numbers of common spotted orchid, bee orchid and pyramidal orchid.
Grasslands on the Reserve are cut once a year towards the end of summer, a style of management which favours an attractive variety of wild flowers and grasses including Sweet Vernal Grass, Crested Dog's-tail and Hay Rattle. Where deeper and richer soils have developed, coarser grasses like Cocksfoot will be found, with swathes of Willowherb, Thistle and Bramble. These areas are a good place to see butterflies and other invertebrates.
On Wren's Nest Hill in the sourthern part of the Reserve most of the oldest Ash, Beech and Sycamore are survivors of trees planted over the last 200 years. Ash woodlands has a good range of shrubs and a wide assortment of mosses, ferns and other plants growing on the woodland floor.
If you would like a copy of our 'Wildlife of Wren's Nest NNR' leaflet then you can download a copy from the leaflets page.
