THE Devil's Spittleful nature reserve, which lies in the triangle of land between the towns of Stourport, Bewdley and Kidderminster, must be one of the most enigmatically named nature reserves in the country.

The name comes from local folklore which concerns the large red sandstone rock outcrop that stands proud from the rest of the reserve.

Legend goes that the rock was created in an epic battle between a giant and the devil, who was intent in blotting out the town of Bewdley.

In reality, the exact origins of the rock are a little cloudier but theories as to its origins are that the rock was left behind after erosional processes from either the ancient meanderings of the River Severn, or from the huge melt-water channels that would have existed in this part of the country.

In the last Ice Age, Wyre Forest would have been at the most southerly extent of the ice-sheet and as such vast amounts of water would have passed this way from the melting of the glacial ice.

The history of the area is also a little cloudy. Following the end of the last Ice Age, there is evidence that the heathlands which surround the Spittleful were important areas for prehistoric man.

There are a few nearby Iron Age settlements, at Woodbury Hill and Wassell Wood, and it is possible that the Devil's Spittleful land was farmed as part of these dwellings.

Some evidence exists that the land then formed part of a medieval park. More recently, the land was taken on by the military during the Second World War - hence part of the reserve is known as the Rifle Range.

Many of the structure that formed part of this complex are still visible but even now it is just a few locals who know the significance of these and if we are not careful this knowledge too will be lost in the mists of time.

In an attempt to try to unravel in a little more detail the chequered past of this nature reserve, it is hoped that in the next few months an archaeological project can be initiated.

These days the Devil's Spittleful is a nature reserve of special scientific interest for the lowland heath habitat which it supports. This has been described by English Nature as the most threatened wildlife habitat in western Europe.

Many large scale works have been carried out on this reserve by the Wyre Forest District Council Ranger Service and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, through the Tomorrow's Heathland Heritage national conservation scheme.

Much has been achieved to conserve this ancient piece of land's natural heritage, but the reserve is always under threat from human pressures.