About the reserve

The reserve lies in a narrow steep sided wooded valley and is on both sides of the Holford stream. Most of the reserve is on steep, slippery slopes with the fast flowing stream at the base. At the northern end of the reserve the valley widens and the stream regularly floods here when fallen branches make temporary dams.

This is a wonderfully atmospheric woodland. Visit in late spring to see Wild Garlic carpeting the woodland floor and also Primroses, Wood Anemone and Early Purple Orchids which flower in large numbers here. Due to the very damp nature of the reserve there are outstanding displays of Male Fern, Soft Shield Fern, Broad Buckler Fern plus the Hard Fern. Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Greater Spotted and Green woodpeckers occur in the reserve throughout the year.

Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker and the Golden Ringed Dragonfly appear regularly. Red Deer are often seen in the wood and Roe Deer also occur.

Reserve conservation management - Management is very low intervention and aims to maintain and enhance the woodland habitat by the removal of non native tree species.

Holford Kelting is also close to the Quantock Hills, Kilve and West Quantocks Head beaches.