Habitats - Woodlands
The woodland consists of a mixture of primarily:
- Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea);
- Ash (Fraxinus excelsior);
- Beech (Fagus sylvatica).
An understory scrub layer of:Hazel (Corylus avellana);
- Bramble (Rubus fruticosus);
- Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum);
- Gorse (Ulex europeaus);
- Holly (Ilex aquifolium).
- Climbers - Ivy (Hedera helix) and Honeysuckle (Lonicera
periclymenum).
The are also areas of woodland dominated by or including Silver Birch (Betula pendula).
The woodlands contain many typical woodland floor plants:
- Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas);
- Harts tongue Fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium);
- Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis);
- Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria);
- Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa).
A long the trail, where the openness and light creates a micro-habitat similar to a woodland glade,
flowers such as Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) may be found, popular with
insects such as bumblebees.
You may also see some species more common to heath and
moorland such as Calluna vulgaris (Heather) with its’ pale
mauve flower spikes. The woodland is popular with many bird
species. Walking through on a spring or summer day you may
hear the sound of the Green Woodpecker, or Great Spotted
Woodpecker, hammering away at a tree.
You may also see a small bird with a blue grey back,
cream/salmon coloured underparts, and a black stripe on its’ head, hopping up the side of
a tree – this is a Nuthatch. There are some more shy and secretive creatures
in the woodland that are unseen during the day, but will be active during
the night, such as the various Owl species, Bats and Moths.