Bottom Wood

Bottom Wood

Bottom Wood is a nature reserve belonging to the Chiltern Society.

It is not very big, but it contains a wide variety of woodland plants and animals. It has a population of dormice, which are now rare over most of Britain, and several other uncommon species.

The reserve is 14.5 hectares overall. Of this, 11.5 hectares is ancient woodland.

The other three hectares are chalk grassland, reclaimed over the last few years from a failed tree plantation. In 2006, Bottom Wood was runner up in the Chilterns Conservation Award for work on this area.

Over 700 species of animal and plant have been noted in Bottom Wood, and many more may be found in the future.

Bottom Wood is looked after by a small group of volunteers.