A BBOWT nature reserve which is a treasure trove of orchids and other rare wildlife is to be dedicated to The Queen to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.

Warburg Nature Reserve is one of 70 Ancient Woodlands and 70 Ancient Trees which will form the Ancient Canopy to honour Her Majesty’s 70 years of service this year.

The initiative was launched by The Prince of Wales in his role as Patron of The Queen’s Green Canopy project.

A hidden gem in the Chiltern Hills just north of Henley, Warburg is home a huge range of species from lizards and grass snakes to weasels and stoats, rare butterflies like purple hairstreak, pink elephant hawk-moths and threatened hazel dormice.

Estelle Bailey, Chief Executive of BBOWT, said:

"We are honoured and delighted that Warburg has been chosen as part of the Ancient Canopy to celebrate Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee. This site is indeed one of the jewels in our crown, and a precious gem that is open to everyone who wants to come and marvel at its treasures.

"Our mission as a Trust is to bring about nature’s recovery by inspiring and empowering local people to help bring nature back, and this dedication is a fantastic way to celebrate amazing local wildlife and remind people what outstanding natural heritage we have and why it is worth protecting."

Announcing the 70 woodlands, The Queen's Green Canopy project said they represented 'the diverse canopy of the four nations' and were 'a celebration of living heritage'. Many were chosen because they were 'symbols of community pride', 'places to connect socially' or 'vital spaces for health and wellbeing activities'.

By sharing the stories behind the ancient woodlands and trees, as well as the efforts that are made to protect them, The Queen’s Green Canopy said it hoped to raise awareness of 'treasured habitats' and the importance of conserving them for future generations.

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales said:

“These working woodlands and magnificent trees span our nation’s amazing landscape and exist for everyone to enjoy. The ancient woodlands and trees can be found in urban aswell as rural environments, from National Parks to residential areas, representing the unique diversity of all corners of the United Kingdom. Trees and woodlands have a profound significance for us all – their steadfast and reassuring presence a reminder of our long serving Sovereign and her enduring dedication.

“Let us ensure that in her name we can now protect and strengthen this wonderful living Canopy for the next seventy years and, hopefully, way beyond. And, above all, let us ensure that future generations can celebrate and enjoy them.”

Warburg Nature Reserve was acquired by BBOWT in 1967, but the purchase was only made possible by the remarkable persistence and fundraising talents of local school teacher and amateur naturalist Vera Paul.

Born and raised a stone's throw from the site in South Oxfordshire, Vera Paul recognised that the area around the village of Bix - known as Bix Bottom - was a very special place with its own microclimate fostering a huge diversity of wildlife.

At the time of the purchase, the wildlife trust was in its infancy and run entirely by volunteers. In order to raise the required sum, Vera Paul worked her way through the phone book and wrote asking for donations to anyone who had a wildlife-related house name, on the assumption the people living there were interested in nature. This unusual fundraising approach worked, and the site was saved for the future.

It was named after Dr EF Warburg, a well-known botanist at Oxford University, who - along with Vera Paul - was one of the founder members of what was originally called the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Naturalists' Trust.

Bix Bottom - including a significant part of Warburg Nature Reserve - is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in recognition of its conservation value and, in particular, botanical diversity.

Warburg is BBOWT's richest site for orchids, boasting the lilac spikes of pyramidal orchids, the insect-mimicking fly orchid and the highly unusual bird's-nest orchid which does not get its energy from sunlight but parasitises tree roots.

Warburg is also home to rare purple hairstreak butterflies, silver-washed fritillaries and an incredible 900 species of fungi.