Hambury Wood, Landimore, Gower, Swansea

Nuthatch

Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

Hambury Wood, Landimore, Gower, Swansea

Important update: Our Hambury Wood Nature Reserve is currently closed to the public. 

Ancient woodland on an abandoned sea cliff.

Location

Landimore.

OS Map Reference

Grid References O.S. Explorer map 164 Gower; SS472921.
A static map of Hambury Wood, Landimore, Gower, Swansea

Know before you go

Size
4 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

Car parking on the side of the road close to the reserve is very limited.

Access

Just west of Weobley Castle on the steep slope of the North Gower limestone escarpment  1.2 km east of Landimore and 1.2 km west of Llanrhidian. Access can be obtained from the unclassified Oldwalls to Llanmadoc road by way of a stile to the east of a stone wall on the north side of the road. A short walk down the field boundary gives access to the wood through a wicket gate on the western end of the reserve. 

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open access reserve.

Best time to visit

Spring, summer and autumn.

About the reserve

Hambury Wood‚ is dominated by Oak and Ash with an understorey of neglected Hazel coppice, which has become overgrown. This and past grazing by sheep has resulted in a sparse field layer.  The tree canopy is augmented by some fine Field Maple, the occasional Sycamore, and a certain amount of dead and dying English Elm. The shrub layer is predominantly Hazel coppice interspersed with Hawthorn, Elder, and Holly.  Other woodland plants that occur include Ivy, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Rose and Blackthorn. In spring, the field layer is carpeted with Wild garlic and Bluebells.

There are an abundance of epiphytes with ferns, mosses and lichens all well represented.

Woodland birds such as Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, and Treecreeper have been frequently recorded, and good views of Buzzard can be obtained on almost every visit. Little Egret are often seen picking over the marsh, and the views of wintering wildfowl coming into roost at high tide are spectacular.

Little egret

Little Egret. Gary Cox