Birds The water area encourages wading birds such as
spotted redshank,
greenshank,
green sandpiper and
curlew.
Snipe are recorded as over-wintering. Breeding birds include
little grebe,
moorhen,
mallard,
Eurasian teal and
tufted duck. The heathland area encourages
whinchat,
skylark,
tree pipit,
cuckoo,
nightjar,
kestrel and
sparrowhawk. The reserve is one of three known sites in the Forest of Dean where
stonechat breed.
Swift,
swallow and
house martin are regular feeders as the site is rich in insect life.
Invertebrates A wide range of butterflies are recorded which include
small skipper,
common blue, and there are local rarities such as
grayling and
brown argus reported.
Common lizard,
slowworm,
grass snake and
adder are encouraged by the heathland habitat. This is threatened habitat and once covered large areas of the Forest of Dean.
Flora and fungi Rushes flourish along the margins, and a variety of herbs and grasses in the rides.
Bell heather has established itself in the heath area, along with
ling and
common gorse. The dead branches of gorse encourage fungi such as
witches' butter.
Bay boletes may be found beneath the pine trees. ==Conservation==