Wyre Forest becomes largest protected woodland in England

The visitor centre in the Wyre Forest welcomes around 350,000 people each year

The Wyre Forest has become the largest woodland National Nature Reserve (NNR) in England after a decision to bring more land within its boundaries.

It has been extended by almost 900 hectares, more than doubling its size to 1,455 hectares.

The NNR, in Worcestershire and Shropshire, has seen visitor numbers increase since the Covid pandemic.

Natural England said the status would give the newly-included land greater protection.

The area is owned by a number of landowners, including the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, and managed by Natural England and the Forestry England.

It includes a range of habitats, including grassland, old orchards, areas of scrub and steep-sided valleys.

The area is known to have been wooded since at least the year 900 and the forest was popular for hunting in medieval times, Natural England said.

The 'Foresta de Wyre' is mentioned in the Doomsday Book

Natural England chair Tony Juniper said "it is exactly this kind of varied habitat that we must create more of if we are to improve the prospects for some of our most beautiful and interesting wild species".

Colin Raven, director of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, said: "As well as the wonders of wildflowers, fungi, reptiles and mammals, there are a number of bird species that are very sensitive to disturbance so having more protected land should help to give them a real boost."

The Wyre Forest is home to deer, polecats, otters as well as smaller mammals

There are 224 NNRs in England, with a total area of over 99,000 hectares, but not all of them are woodland NNRs.

The largest is The Wash, covering almost 8,800 hectares and the Wyre Forest is now the 14th largest NNR of any type in the country after previously being the 40th largest.

It is home to 34 of the 59 butterfly species found in the UK, including the white admiral, dainty wood white and England's largest colony of pearl-bordered fritillaries.

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