You are at point number 2
Cross the stile into the woods and follow the woodland track until you meet a junction of 3 paths. This is point 3.
Take a closer look at the 'Badger Stile' as you cross into the woods, so named as you can see scratch marks made by the animals which have scrambled over it.
As you venture into the woods you will see rows of Scots pine which are one of only three native conifers to the UK and our only native pine, it is easily identified by the pinky - orange bark on its higher trunk and branches. Mature scots pine grow to 35 metres and can live for up to 700 years. Scots pine is monoecious, meaning both male and female flowers grow on the same tree. Male flowers comprise clusters of yellow anthers at the base of shoots whereas female flowers are small, red-purple and globular, and grow at the tips of new shoots. After pollination by wind, the female flowers turn green and develop into cones. They mature the following season, so there are always cones of different ages on the one tree.
Another tree to note is the larch conifer, with its soft green needle like leaves growing in tufts. Being a fast growing plant it is popular in commercial plantations and is one of the few conifers to lose its needles in the autumn. It is very strong for its weight and is therefore used for both heavy constructional purposes as well as being suitable for boat planking, masts and spars.
The estate is lucky to have many fine beech trees and you will see many of these along the trail. Their smooth, sinewy trunk and branches with light grey bark are unmistakable. Beech also provides valuable timber, during World War 2 large quantities of Miserden beech were felled and converted into a composite veneer material called Permali, which was used in radiolocation masts, dashboards of aircraft and mine detecting apparatus.
In this part of the woodland keep a look out for one of three species of deer; Muntjac, Roe and Fallow deer which are regularly spotted here at Miserden.
In early spring bluebells, followed by wild garlic carpet the forest floor. Such species can take hundreds of years to establish and are an indicator that you are in an ancient woodland. Other more conspicuous species like Townhall Clock and Broad leaved hellorborine can also be found here but take a keen eye to find. Many different fungi can be found within the woodland during the warm damp autumn months. The mushrooms seen above ground are merely the fruiting body of a huge underground network of mycelium, the fungis main structure. Like the flowers of plants the mushrooms purpose is to aid reproduction, they often release huge quantities of microscopic spores that travel through the air unseen. It has only recently been discovered that trees often have a symbiotic relationship with the fungi underground, the roots of the trees interact with the fungi and can exchange nutrients, boost overall tree health and even act as communication pathways between individual trees, informing neighbouring trees of incoming invasions of leaf eating caterpillar for example. Please don't pick the fungi as many are poisonous and should only be picked if absolutely certain of their identification.
Please stick to the designated pathways and avoid trampling the delicate woodland flora, such species can take centuries to establish in such quantities and can be easily damaged.
