To the Southwest side of the River Severn lies the ancient  Forest of Dean. Rich in wildlife like squirrels, badgers, foxes and rabbits, the forest was traditionally kept well stocked with pheasants, deer and wild boar as a hunting ground for the royal table. During the springtime, bluebells, foxgloves and other wild flowers carpet the forest floor. The mixed woodland is made up predominantly of oak trees, although beech and chestnut trees are also common. Timber from the forest has always been considered of particularly high quality and was used for building ships for the royal navy. The forest is also rich in iron and coal deposits.

The  Forest of Dean's  magical sense of mystery, has inspired many writers over the years - Tolkein’s “Lord of the Rings” and JK Rowling’s “Harry Potter” to name just two. It has been a popular location for filming forest scenes of the Harry Potter movies, as well as other films and TV series such as “Merlin” and “Jack the Giant Killer”.