River Wye voted best in England and Wales

The River Wye, that runs alongside Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust's Lancaut and Ban-y-Gor Nature Reserves in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has today been announced as the best river in England and Wales

River Wye voted best in England and Wales

The River Wye, that runs alongside Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s Lancaut and Ban-y-Gor Nature Reserves in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has today been announced as the best river in England and Wales, according to a national poll undertaken by the Our Rivers campaign.

Described by voters as “magical and timeless”, “a haven for wildlife” and “a place to get lost and slow down”, the river, its banks and the surrounding nature reserves are home to a vast array of wildlife for which the area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The River Wye is the fifth longest river in the UK, but the stretch that passes these nature reserves is one if the loveliest and the wildest. A visit to the Trust’s Lancaut Nature Reserve will offer not only varied walks through beautiful ancient woodland and cliff tops, but unrivalled views across the river and the Wye Valley. It is also the best place in the Lower Wye Gorge to access viewpoints/perspectives direct from the river bank.

Otters are returning to the area, making their way down the river, and dormice are flourishing in the woods. Peregrine falcons nest on the cliffs of Lancaut and Ban-y-Gor and this is a great place to observe their natural behaviour in such a wild setting.

Ralph Underhill from the Our Rivers campaign said: “The Wye is a stunning river which captures the imagination of everyone who visits it. It faces real threats… but it remains a fantastic place to spot wildlife, from sand martins to dippers to dragonflies and salmon.”

The campaign, organised by the WWF-UK, RSPB, Angling Trust and Salmon and Trout Association, aims to celebrate our rivers and highlight the threats they face. The poll was launched in August and encouraged the public to vote for rivers they love, and those that they feel are neglected. Vice President of The Wildlife Trusts and campaign supporter, Chris Packham says: “Our rivers are under pressure from so many sources, yet their health is vitally important to us all. Clean, healthy rivers, teeming with life and what we all wan to see and what the Our Rivers campaign is all about.” For those who may not be able to venture into the woods, a stunning view of the Wye and Wintour’s Leap is still available from a newly-cleared spot on the roadside in the village of Woodcroft (as you cross the road on the Offa’s Dyke path, look for the bollards to the left). How to get to Lancaut Nature Reserve On the A48 Gloucester to Chepstow road � mile north of Chepstow, take the B4228 signposted Tutshill and Woodcroft. Turn right at the roundabout (B4228) and after 1 mile turn sharp left up Lancaut Lane, carry on and park on the grassy area on the left. The path into the reserve is 100m beyond the parking marked by a information board and footpath way marker. Visit www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/naturereserves/lancaut for more information about the reserve, or telephone 01452 383333 for a FREE reserve leaflet.