Quarry Wood

Quarry Wood is a 7-acre woodland managed by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. It stands on the west side of the A41 road at Hinstock in Shropshire. Oak, birch and hornbeam grow alongside swathes of rhododendron. The sandstone cliffs in the wood formed around 220 million years ago in the Triassic period. At that time the area was hot and dry, and dinosaurs were beginning to appear. The wood once provided cover for large flocks of roosting thrushes and finches. Between 1966 and 1985 about 20,000 birds were ringed there. The numbers of roosting thrushes and finches have since declined. The wood now supports a variety of woodland birds including Eurasian jays, tits, Eurasian nuthatches and great spotted woodpeckers. Visitors find a small but varied woodland with sandstone cliffs. Paths wind through the trees and rhododendron thickets. The cliffs add a rugged character to the landscape. The wood remains a peaceful place for birdwatching and short walks.