Things to do in Shortstanding, Gloucestershire

A great place to come to admire one of the remaining marshlands in the Forest of Dean. Cannop Bridge Marsh has a wealth of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies in the summer and is a great place to try to spot nuthatches, treecreepers, woodpeckers and reed buntings.

Sandwiched between the River Wye and the A40, this little gem of a grassland reserve provides a much-needed home for nature.

This atmospheric ancient woodland is the perfect spot for a tranquil walk in spring and summer, when wildflowers carpet the floor and bird song fills the air.

Woorgreens is found in the heart of the Forest of Dean, and is home to a range of wildlife that live within its marsh, lake and heath habitats. Now considered threatened, heathland once covered large areas of the Forest of Dean.In the spring and summer it's a great place to spot dragonflies and damselflies or look for reptiles. Bird life is abundant, both on the lake and the surrounding heathland and woodland edges - listen out for the sound of the cuckoo, look for shy crossbills in the woodland edges, or look for hobbies chasing dragonflies over the lake.

Set within the picturesque Wye Valley, this former dairy farm is being transformed into an intricate mosaic of habitats, rich in nature.

Pentwyn Farm has survived virtually unchanged for centuries. One of the largest areas of flower-rich grassland remaining in Gwent, it provides an opportunity to see traditional hay meadows at their best.

This small reserve of broad-leaved woodland is most impressive in spring when snowdrops blanket the ground. Please note there is no public access at this time.

Part of what once was a large wet heathland covering Cinderford, Laymoor Quag bursts with plant and insect life in the spring and a great place to look out for dragonflies in the summer months.

Sprawling oaks and towering beech trees form a beautiful mature woodland on the lower slopes of Whitebrook Valley, full of plants and woodland birds.

Edgehills Bog has a peaceful atmosphere and is a relic of, the once widespread habitat, wet heath.

The diversity and colour of the wildflowers in these traditional hay meadows steals the show in spring and summer before giving centre stage to the autumnal hues of fungi.

From sweeping views over the Monnow Valley to microcosms of plants and minibeasts living on the dry stone walls, there’s a lot to discover at this reserve.

A great place to explore if you love both geological features, fossils and wildlife.This SSSI has both important geological features and a sheltered, sunny position making it an ideal location for grassland butterflies and scrub-loving birds.

Wigpool is the remnant of the acidic bog and heathland that once covered Wigpool Common. The pool is situated within a large conifer plantation, and is a great place for marshland plants, reptiles and wildfowl.

One of the finest surviving traditional hay meadows in Gloucestershire, Clarke's Pool Meadow is a sanctuary for small mammals and meadow flora.

Like something out of a fairytale, this stunning ancient woodland is a tranquil place to stroll among the woodland wildflowers whilst listening to the birds singing in the trees.

Slow worms warming themselves up under rocks, lizards basking on sunny gorse, woodcocks performing their 'roding' display flight at dusk and evidence of hazelnuts chewed by dormice – these reserves are peaceful and beautiful open landscapes.

The meadows and ancient woodland at Ridley Bottom have an undisturbed atmosphere, with old limestone hedgerows, grassland flowers and a quiet atmosphere that attracts a variety of birds.