Margaret's Wood

Margaret’s Wood is a beautiful woodland, situated on the lower slopes of the Whitebrook valley, in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The wood has some fine examples of mature oak and beech. Other species include cherry, yew, birch and holly.
The ruins of a small cottage, originating from the 18th Century, are visible within the reserve. Small solidly built cottages, sometimes with a very small window, would once have been a familiar sight in the Welsh countryside. Beech-lined boundary banks and the remains of old stone boundary walls, covered with mosses and ferns, are also present.
Species
March is a good time to see this reserve, when a mass of native wild daffodils carpets the open areas below the woodland. The Wye Valley acts as a stronghold for this spring species which is absent from most other areas of Wales. 
Margaret’s Wood is a particularly good site for ferns – including populations of the rare oak fern. A rich variety of fungi can be found on the site in the autumn making it a good location for a fungus foray. Woodland birds that can be seen throughout the year include marsh tit, woodpeckers, nuthatch and treecreeper. Mammals such as fallow deer and dormice are also present. 
Access
The reserve is on a hillside with access direct from the narrow country lane. The terrain is steep and there are steps.
Directions
From Monmouth, leave south on the B4293. After approximately 1.5km, take the left fork signposted Trellech, Penallt and Chepstow. Continue up the hill along the B4293 then take the left turn to Whitebrook and The Narth. Go straight ahead, across the crrossroads and after 2km, the reserve entrance is on the right hand side just before The Crown at Whitebrook. Parking for one car is available by the roadside (grid ref: SO 525 069). Further parking is available beyond the The Crown at Whitebrook, where the road is wider.
Nearby reserves
New Grove Meadows, Pentwyn Farm, Wyeswood Common and Prisk Wood.
What to see around the reserve
The reserve is very close to The Crown at Whitebrook and the Wye Valley Way.

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