JONES' ROUGH

This small, steep woodland reserve is set among many tiny fields and hedgerows. Offa's Dyke footpath runs right through the wood and leads out on to Moelydd Hill, where the ground is starred with the yellow flowers of tormentil in spring and shiny red, orange and yellow waxcap fungi in autumn.

A lot of work has been done by the Trust's conservation volunteers in the wood lately, cutting down yews to let in the light, coppicing hazel to keep it young and bushy. This is good news for spring flowers, notably violets. And anything that's good news for violets has to be good news for the pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly - its caterpillars live on an exquisite diet of violet leaves. Jones' Rough is one of only a handful of places in Shropshire for this butterfly, which has been hard hit nationally by habitat changes.

The limestone scree provides perfect conditions for rock rose, wild thyme and marjoram and a nationally rare sedge, carex muricata muricata.

After exploring the wood, carry on up the footpath to the Moelydd hill for spectacular views straight down to the Welsh border and to the south Shropshire hills. From here take your choice of footpaths!