Flyford Flavell�and Grafton Wood Walk

3 miles (5.2 km)

This walk visits the Worcestershire village of Flyford Flavell and the Grafton Wood Nature Reserve.
The reserve is located a short stroll from the village. Just follow the Wychavon Way north west for about half a mile and you will reach the site. Here you can enjoy some pleasant woodland trails with lots of wildlife to see. Highlights include the rare brown hairstreak butterfly and Bechstein's bat. There are also lots of pretty bluebells to see during the spring months.
To continue your walking in the area head to neighbouring Inkberrow where you'll find a picturesque village green, a historic church and a fine local pub. The settlement is notable as the model for�Ambridge, the setting of�BBC Radio 4's long-running series�The Archers.
Please scroll down for the full list of walks near and around Flyford Flavell. The detailed maps below also show a range of footpaths, bridleways and cycle paths in the area.

Flyford Flavell Ordnance Survey Map - view and print off detailed OS map

Flyford Flavell Open Street Map - view and print off detailed map

Flyford Flavell OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Flyford Flavell Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Flyford Flavell

Inkberrow - This pretty Worcestershire�village includes a picturesque village green, a historic church and a fine local pub
Wychavon Way - Follow the Wychavon Way through the Worcestershire countryside on this splendid 40 mile walk.
The walk begins at the town of Droitwch Spa, where you can pick up the waymarked trail just to the east of the town centre and train station
Coughton Court - Explore the beautiful gardens of the Tudor Coughton Court, before a lovely waterside stroll along the River Arden on this walking route in Warwickshire
Redditch - This lovely figure of eight walk takes you along the Miller's Trail to Arrow Valley Country Park in the Worcestershire town of Redditch
Alcester - The Warwickshire settlement of Alcester has several popular waymarked walking trails running through or close by the town
Bidford on Avon - This delightful Warwickshire village has some lovely river and country trails to enjoy
Oversley Wood - Follow the woodland trails through the delightful forest on this circular walk in Alcester
Stratford Upon Avon - The Warwickshire town of Stratford Upon Avon is famously associated with William Shakespeare
Stratford Upon Avon Canal - Enjoy waterside cycling and walking on this 26 mile canal which runs from Stratford Upon Avon to Birmingham
Monarch's Way - This incredible 615-mile walk approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester
Arrow Valley Country Park - Enjoy waterside cycling and walking in this splendid country park in Redditch
Ragley Hall - This walk explore the Ragley Hall estate in Arrow, Warwickshire
Studley Castle - This walk visits the 19th century Studley Castle in Warwickshire

Pubs/Cafes

The Flyford is a stylish country pub with an excellent fish bar. They have ample outdoor seating which is ideal for fine weather. You can find them at postcode WR7 4DA.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

More about the reserve:
In partnership with Butterfly Conservation, Grafton plays a pivotal role in one of Worcestershire's key conservation achievements.
The woodland is home to the Midlands' sole population of brown hairstreak butterflies. Active in August and September, these rare butterflies have been the focus of a dedicated conservation effort. Collaborating with local landowners and promoting proper hedgerow care, volunteers from both charities have contributed to the expansion and population growth of these butterflies.
Grafton Wood is a historic, semi-natural woodland with broad-leaved trees, managed until the 1950s as coppice-with-standards for producing various items like broom handles and clothes pegs.
Present-day management practices aim to continue this traditional approach, including widening the woodland paths, coppicing, and forming clearings. Efforts are made to preserve areas with young blackthorn bushes, crucial for the survival of brown hairstreak butterflies. The dominant canopy trees are ash and oak, with a remarkable ancient small-leaved lime coppice stool, believed to have originated from a single lime tree over a thousand years ago. The woodland also features a dense undergrowth of field maple, hawthorn, and hazel. However, Grafton Wood isn't just a haven for brown hairstreak butterflies.
It's a vital habitat for other woodland butterflies such as silver-washed fritillaries and white admirals, as well as a range of noteworthy moths like the drab looper and rosy footman. The wood records various fungi species and is known for its unique flora, including herb-paris and bird’s-nest orchid. Regular bird sightings include buzzards, goldcrests, and woodpeckers, while the nearby meadows and orchards are vital for green woodpeckers. The recent discovery of Bechstein’s bats in the wood has marked it as the most northerly breeding roost for this species in the UK.