If you visit the woods at Nagshead over the festive period, you will be sure of a big surprise thanks to art students from the Royal Forest of Dean campus of Gloucester College. The students have created six sculptures specifically for Nagshead as part of their course, which can be found around the Visitor Centre, Nursery Meadows and the start of Short Trail. Some of the pieces are an impressive size and look like they have stepped (or wriggled!) straight from the pages of a child's story book, showing great imagination. If you are in the area over the coming weeks, why not drop in with the family and meet some of these friendly monsters!
Arbor the Tree Monster (Photo: Lewis Thomson)
Green Gorgan the Grass Monster (Photo: Lewis Thomson)
One of the many Sock Shnobblers (Photo: Lewis Thomson)
Wildlife sightings at Nagshead have started to pick up again after the predictable early winter lull. Small flocks of Hawfinches and Crossbills have been seen around the Nursery Meadows area and a Kingfisher has been making regular visits to the Nursery Pond near the car park. Yesterday, a Peregrine stooping at a Goshawk and driving it away over the Visitor Centre was an impressive sight and a sounder of Wild Boar were seen on Long Trail this morning.
We would like to wish all a very Merry Christmas and a wildlife filled New Year; we look forward to seeing you out on the reserves in 2015!
Gloucestershire reserves team.