Thorswood

Thorswood is a nature reserve of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. It is in the Weaver Hills near the village of Stanton, in Staffordshire, England.

Thorswood
A stile leading to the nature reserve
Location in Staffordshire
Locationnear Stanton, Staffordshire
grid reference SK 113 470
Coordinates53.020°N 1.832°W / 53.020; -1.832
Area81 hectares (200 acres)
Operated byStaffordshire Wildlife Trust
WebsiteThorswood

Description

Its area is 81 hectares (200 acres); the terrain is steep in places.[1]

There are hay meadows on low-lying ground, where ox-eye daisy, knapweed and betony may be found with the tall grasses. On the limestone grassland of the higher ground, there are low-growing flowering plants including salad burnet, cowslip and wild thyme.[1]

Instead of intensive farming practices, there is light grazing and traditional farming techniques, some fields being mown to make hay; the grazing and mowing prevents the grass becoming overgrown and smothering the rarer plants.[1]

History and prehistory

There are three Bronze Age bowl barrows within the reserve; they are scheduled monuments.[2] Lead mining, dating back to the 17th century, took place at Thorswood; the remains of this activity survive in parts of the reserve as extensive hillocks, up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) high, and a number of shafts have been identified. The remains are a scheduled monument.[3] Visitors to the reserve are advised to keep to the marked trails where indicated, in order to avoid mineshafts.[1]

References
  1. "Thorswood" Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  2. "Thorswood Nature Reserve, North Staffordshire. Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Survey" Archaeology Data Service. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  3. Historic England. "Thorswood Mines (1412506)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
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