A mixed, deciduous, Ancient and Semi-natural woodland covering nine hectares, the woods include oak, ash, wild cherry, silver birch and rowan. The shrub Layer contains hazel, elder, hawthorn and natural regeneration of oak, aspen, birch and ash.
The wood has a variety of ground plants in the spring and summer, including bracken, bramble, willow herb, nipplewort, herb Robert, wood avens, dog-rose, speedwell, cow parsley, common sorrel and stichwort to name but few. The most outstanding feature is the display of Bluebells during May and June in the eastern end of the Wood.
Geology and Soil
The wood is on a level site 84m above sea level lying over boulder clay and sandstone of glacial origin.
Woodland Management
Recent projects have included providing a suitable path to help visitors with disabilities. It is currently managed as hazel coppice with oak standards with a section of woodland being cut every second or third year. It is planned to re-introduce coppicing to the wood and improve the existing system to encourage flora and fauna. Some selective felling and replanting has taken place on the western side of the wood with planting of wild cherry, ash and oak.
The coppice was grown on a 10-15 year rotation and cut on alternate years producing:
- hedging stakes
- pea and bean sticks
- besom brooms
- broomstick handles
- thatching spars
- wattle hurdles
- wattle and daub plasterwork
At the end of each coppice rotation mature standards are felled, intermediate aged ones thinned, and new ones planted. Timber from standards was used for furniture, building, fencing, gate making, firewood and barrel making. Coppice with standards dates from mediaeval times, and retention of standards for timber was required by law in the 16th Century.