Stuart Fawkes

Stuart Fawkes nature reserve, also known as Box Meadows SSSI, is made up of three fields and is home to one of Britain's largest populations of meadow clary, a very rare plant found in only 21 sites.

Location

Found on the south side of Box Village

Nailsworth

The nearest postcode is GL6 9HA

OS Map Reference

ST865997
What3Words: capillary.winner.shocks

Know before you go

Size

8 hectares

Entry fee

Free

Parking information

There is room for one vehicle to park along the track off Box Lane but parking available on roads around the village.

Grazing animals

Cattle

Access

The terrain is gentle-sloped but flat

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open throughout the year

Best time to visit

June to July

About the reserve

The gently-sloping, south-facing limestone grassland at Stuart Fawkes’ nature reserve is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The three fields support one of the UK’s largest populations of meadow clary, which flowers in June and July. This rare plant, also known as Salvia pratensis, is found on just 21 sites in the country. Other wildflowers found at Stuart Fawkes include common rock-rose, cowslip and white helleborine, along with bee, green-winged, early purple, common spotted, pyramidal and autumn lady’s tresses orchids. All these plants attract butterflies over the summer, including small blue, small heath and dingy skipper. Grazing cattle help to maintain the grassland of this reserve.

The nature reserve is named after Frederick Stuart Fawkes, one of the founders of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, and was adopted by the Trust in 1978. Previously it was referred to as Ball’s Green Pasture.