Wildlife at Kinver Edge

A shiny black beetle climbs heathland plants — Explore the wildlife of Kinver Edge | © Alex Murison

The fragile heathland habitat at Kinver Edge is home to many rare species, as well as more familiar plants and animals. Much of the landscape is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest for its ecological importance. Here are some of the plants and animals you might see on your visit.

Spring at Kinver Edge

The first signs of spring are yellow clusters of European Gorse that frame the heathland areas. These flowers provide the tropical smell of coconut that attracts insects.

Lesser celandines line outer woodland paths and a carpet of bluebells replace them in mid spring. April sees trees grow greener and come into leaf, with silver birches producing catkins.

Spring birds

Spring brings the sound of many breeding birds to Kinver Edge as they begin singing and displaying to establish their territories. Look out for the woodcock, specifically their “roading” display where they fly around during the evening croaking like a frog. You may also hear the recognisable call of the cuckoo or the sweet-sounding song of the chiffchaff.

Wildlife spotting

Reptiles

Four types of reptiles live on the heath: common lizards, slow-worms, adders and grass snakes. They can often be spotted basking in the sand, and if very lucky you may catch a fleeting glimpse of adder with their distinctive zig-zag pattern.

Bats

The human residents may have moved out, but the rock houses are not uninhabited. Rare lesser horseshoe bats have a winter roost here, their furthest north in the country. Listen for them on the bat detectors at the rock houses reception between October and April.

Natterers and brown long-eared bats are amongst those that live in the woods.

Birds

Spring brings the sound of many breeding birds to the heathland and woodland, such as the evocative call of cuckoo, unusual rodding of woodcock, melodic song of willow warbler and striking song of skylark.

Red kites can be seen in summer and ravens later in the year. Heathland restoration work will hopefully one day bring back the churring of nightjars to the heath, and encourage species such as woodlark to make Kinver Edge their home.

Insects

Visit on a warm day or a balmy evening and the buzz of insects brings home how full of life this heathland habitat is. Over 700 species of moths have been recorded on Kinver Edge, including angle striped sallow, its only Staffordshire site. Visit in the summer for moth-trapping events to see these night-time fliers.

The summer days bring a host of butterflies, such as white admiral in the woodland and brown argus on the heathland and grassland. Nearly a hundred species of solitary bees and wasps can be found nesting in the sandy ground; you might even see their holes below your feet.

Apple tree blossom in orchard, Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses — Apple tree blossom in the orchard at Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses | © National Trust

Plants at Kinver Edge

Varied plant life brings colour and interest year-round. Bright yellow gorse fills the air with a tropical aroma in spring, then a wash of purple takes over when the heather blooms in September.

The fruit trees in the Rock Houses' orchards burst into blossom in springtime, providing a delicate frothy display.

You can find plentiful bilberry and heath bedstraw, and might spot the surprising grey hairgrass, a species usually found on sand dune systems on the Norfolk and Suffolk coast.

Fungi brings colour to the forest floor in autumn, including greasy tough shank, scurfy twiglet and blue leg brownie to name a few.