Checkley and the environment
Checkley is located to the north-east of the group parish and is extremely rural with no shops or bus service. Much of the land lies within the AONB. It is characterised by small fields, unimproved pasture, ancient orchards and an undulating nature with fabulous views across the countryside. It has a small area of Common land which is in the process of coming under a biodiversity management plan led by its landowner and the Parish Council. It has the largest number of the endangered tree Populus nigra – Black Poplar – in the county. Its black and white houses, its ancient chapel, glorious views and wonderful wild flowers, make it a really special place. Much of this has been influenced by the underlying Silurian limestone geology resulting in calcareous-loving plants and insects that depend upon them.
Checkley and the Common
Over the last forty or more years a number of biodiversity surveys have been conducted of this important landscape – this is mainly because this type of landscape is species-rich, unusual and becoming rarer across the UK.
Most recently Herefordshire Wildlife Trust undertook a survey (26th July 2022). The results can be found here, in four downloadable pdfs. The survey was undertaken to help confirm its landscape designation type. It was largely successful but has lost its wetland designation because the ponds have dried up over the last few hot, dry years and no longer retain water as shown on historic mapping.
SWS_SO53-029_Suvey_Grassland parcel 1
SWS_SO53-029_Suvey_Grassland parcel 2
SWS_SO53-029_Suvey_Woodland spp list (3-4)
Ledbury Naturalist survey of Checkley Common 2019 including 1989 survey L.Bunn
Checkley Community
There are various events throughout the year where the community meets to enjoy themselves, such as the Checkley Picnic, Eggroll and sometimes a bonfire. There is a small Chapel.
