Cadora Woods - Redbrook, St. Briavels

Site Description

Cadora Woods (incorporating Causeway Grove to the north, Bigsweir Woods to the south and Highbury Fields to the east) occupies a 3.75km stretch of the steeply west-facing slopes of the Wye Valley. The site lies on generally well drained (locally poorly drained) neutral to slightly calcareous soils overlying sandstone which rises from the eastern edge of the flood plain of the river Wye, between Bigsweir Bridge and the village of Redbrook.

It is bounded to the west by the A466, which is the main route from Monmouth to Chepstow. A number of minor roads and public paths, including Coxbury Lane and the Offa's Dyke path, border and traverse the site.

Bigsweir Woods (Compartment 3) is a 45ha semi-natural ancient woodland, SSSI and SAC that was acquired by the Woodland Trust in 1982. Causeway Grove (Compartment 1) is a 5ha semi-natural ancient coppiced woodland, now largely dominated by sycamore, which was acquired by the Woodland Trust in 1984. In 1999, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Woodland Trust was able to seize the opportunity to acquire Cadora Woods (Compartment 2), a 63ha planted ancient woodland, which links Causeway Grove to Bigsweir Woods. In 2000, a further opportunity arose to purchase land on the upper slopes of the eastern bank of the Wye Valley linking the Trust’s woodlands to Highbury Woods NNR to the east. Highbury Fields are ten fields supporting unimproved and semi-improved grassland of varying species-diversity (MG5/6 NVC communities) plus areas of scrub and woodland, mature hedgerows and banks (lining Coxbury Lane) which support ancient semi-natural woodland.

The entire site is particularly rich in notable old trees, including ancient small-leaved lime pollards, which are thought to be derived from the original natural woodland. Numerous other notable species/features have been identified including upright spurge, spreading bellflower, dormouse and bat species. Further information is held in specialist reports, which are listed at Appendix 1.

Sections of the Offa’s Dyke fall within the site, parts of which are designated Scheduled Ancient Monument. The site also contains a large number of more minor archaeological features.

Although not included in any of the "classic" Wye Valley views, the site is clearly visible from a number of aspects and is an important component of the wooded appearance of the Lower Wye Valley, lying within the Wye Valley AONB

Public access is possible from a car park provided at Bigsweir Wood, and from paths and tracks leading through Cadora Woods and from the village of Redbrook. A wide ride passes through the centre of Bigsweir Woods and a short section of new track built in 2003 links it to the Cadora Woods track network. A stoned track was constructed through Cadora Woods in 2002/3, partly using existing tracks, primarily to assist timber extraction but these works will also provide enhanced public access. The Offa’s Dyke long-distance path passes through the site.

Key features driving the management of Cadora Woods and the prioritisation of resources are:

- the ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) and planted ancient woodland (PAWS) which support a number of notable species;

- the large number of notable (veteran) trees and remnants of coppice stands;

- the rides and ride margins;

- the Offa’s Dyke (parts of which are designated Scheduled Ancient Monument);

- the semi-natural species-rich grassland, hedgerows/field margins and habitat mosaics found at Highbury Fields;

- public access and the potential for interpretation projects.