Rodney Stoke NNR is an ash/lime woodland on the southern scarp of the Mendip Hills. Main habitats: woodland, grassland A public footpath crosses the reserve at Jessie Weeks field, but access beyond this point is by permit only. Features of interest The woodlands are mostly broadleaved trees and the grassland is rooted in shallow soil atop limestone rock. Many plants on the reserve are characteristic of ancient woodlands, such as wood anemone, nettled-leaved bellflower, meadow saffron and wood spurge. The nationally rare purple gromwell can also be spotted in the woodlands. Continued small scale coppicing and maintenance encourages these rare plants to flourish. Pipistrelle and noctule bats roost in the woods and 46 species of breeding birds have been recorded ,including buzzards and spotted flycatchers. Conservation grazing of the grassland encourages species such as early-purple orchid, birds foot trefoil, marjoram, rock rose and salad burnet. The many flowers support a range of insects, including many butterfly species such as marbled white, purple hairstreak, brown argus and grayling. Directions The nearest train is Weston-super-Mare. Bus services run between Weston-super-Mare and Wells, stopping at Rodney Stoke. The reserve is next to Rodney Stoke village on the A371, 5 miles north west of Wells. There is no public car park for the reserve and parking isn’t possible on the small roads leading to the reserve. Two major trails pass near the reserve, the Mendip Way and the Samaritans Way, a trail from Bristol to Lynton. Contact For more information about the reserve (including access), to discuss school visits or volunteering opportunities contact Natural England Enquiries, tel. 0300 060 3900 or email enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk