IN the Middle Ages a large area of north Worcestershire, south Shropshire and south Staffordshire was covered by a mixture of woodland and heath known as Kinver Forest.

This was Royal Forest and it contained hunting enclosures, one of which was Iverley Hay. A beautiful wood now known as Bunker's Hill Wood was part of Iverley Hay but until the late 18th Century it was heathland, not woodland.

It had long ceased to be Royal Forest and had acquired common rights, with local people using it for various purposes. For instance, a scattering of silver birches grew on the heath and these formed a useful resource for broom makers whose products were traditionally made from birch twigs.

At the end of the 18th Century Bunker's Hill was enclosed and trees were planted. People were no longer allowed in, except on the public footpath which runs across the centre of the wood.

In the early 20th Century further tree planting took place and the wood was managed for shooting - making the use of even that one footpath a risky proposition at times. All that changed in 1996, when the wood was bought by the Woodland Trust, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and local people.

The Woodland Trust exists to preserve and create woodland, but is also committed to providing full public access. Ordnance Survey has only recently begun to show Woodland Trust properties on its maps (and still hasn't caught up with Bunker's Hill Wood) so most people are unaware of just how many of these woods there are, or that we are allowed to walk in them.

There are miles of footpaths in Bunker's Hill Wood, which is a wonderful mixture of broadleaved trees such as oak, sweet chestnut, birch, holly and ash, with attractive conifers such as Scots pine and Corsican pine.

The paths range from broad rides, bordered by wild flowers in summer, to narrow paths snaking into the tangled heart of the wood. There are many large oak trees, several of which are on the edges of the wood because oaks were often used as boundary markers.

Oak is our most valuable tree, supporting around 300 insect species, as well as lichens, mosses, fungi, owls and bats, to name just a few. The older a tree, the more wildlife-rich it becomes.

Squirrels are very active in Bunker's Hill Wood throughout the autumn and winter, and so are flocks of birds such as long-tailed tits, goldcrests and greenfinches.

Lesser spotted woodpeckers may be seen too, feeding from the very tips of the twigs. This woodpecker is one of the very few insect-eating birds to stay in Britain for the winter.

Directions

Walk along Station Road away from Hagley then turn first right, signposted no through road . At the end of the road join a path on the right. Follow it to a junction and turn left on the North Worcestershire Path (NWP). Keep straight on by a field edge, then turn right in the next field, leaving the NWP.

Walk to the top of the field then turn left on a track. Turn right at a crosstracks, joining a former Roman road, County Lane. Cross the A451 and continue along the Roman road to a five-ways junction.

Turn left on Sugar Loaf Lane. Take the first footpath on the right, after a house called

Beechlands. The path leads into woodland where you fork right. A little further on it enters Bunker's Hill Wood proper, where you fork right again.

Turn right at a crosspaths, and soon right again. The path descends to a more open area where there are tall birches on your left, a conifer plantation on your right. Ignore a narrow path turning sharp right and continue forward a few paces towards a rhododendron with a tall, tree-like stem. Fork right here, past a group of berry-laden holly trees. Ignoring branch paths, climb to a crosspaths. There should be a field on your right and a shed visible ahead beyond the end of the wood. Turn left here and keep left at two forks, so that you're soon walking close to the west edge of the wood.

When you intercept a broad ride, turn left, go past a large oak tree and ignore branching paths. The ride curves right to a crosspaths where the left branch climbs to the eastern edge of the wood and the way ahead is lined by conifers. Take the right-hand branch and follow it to a clearing with a bench. Turn right to the western edge of the wood.

Turn left along the edge to the bottom corner. Leave the wood and follow a trodden path (number 59) across fields, keeping to the left, to intercept bridleway 25. Turn left. Walk to a crosspaths and turn left again, briefly back on the NWP. Leave it at Sugar Loaf Lane, turning left for 500m until you can join path 29 on the right.

Keep straight on at a junction and go downhill to Iverley. Turn left past the Crown then turn right on the lane behind the pub. After a few paces join a bridleway on the left which takes you back to the Roman road. Turn right, then eventually left on Brake Lane to Station Road.

FACTFILE

Start: Hagley Station, Station Road, Hagley, grid reference SO 901805.

Length: 7.5 miles/12km.

Maps: OS Explorer 219, OS Landranger 139.

Terrain: woodland and sandy bridleways, with gentle gradients.

Stiles: 4.

Parking: near the station or at the places marked on the map.

Public transport: daily trains to Hagley; daily buses 293/300/303/304 to Kidderminster then 192 to Hagley; Traveline 0870 608 2608.

Refreshments: Hagley, or the Crown at Iverley.

DISCLAIMER

This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be correct at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss or injury, however caused.