Bush Wood and High Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.4392, -2.4328

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Also within

Shropshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (3) Favourable (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO700827 — Unfavourable Recovering 11.63 2009-02-16
SO706827 — Favourable 10.14 2009-12-16
SO707820 — Unfavourable Recovering 27.76 2009-02-16
SO707824 — Unfavourable Recovering 48.51 2009-02-16
SO714828 — Favourable 2.28 2009-12-16

Habitats

Bracken scrub, Fast flowing river and stream

Description

Description The Coal measures plateau of south east Shropshire, dissected by tributaries of the Severn, is a comparatively well wooded part of the county. Woods occur mainly in the stream valleys and several areas retain a high degree of scientific interest. These woods occur on geological strata and soils similar to those of the Wyre Forest, a few miles to the south and this is reflected in the flora and fauna. However, because of this geographical separation, the Wyre Forest is treated as a separate site. Bush Wood and High Wood form a large block of woodland on the clays and sandstones of the Coal Measures. Most of the woodland is sessile oak Quercus petraea high forest, but mixed deciduous woodland with alder Alnus glutinosa, ash Fraxinus excelsior, wych elm Ulmus glabra and small leaved lime Tilia cordata occurs in the stream valley. The streamside flora is particularly rich and includes wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus, green hellebore Helleborus viridis, alternate leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium, wild service tree Sorbus torminalis and the uncommon moss Hookeria lucens. The ground flora of much of the wood is characteristic of acid soils and consists of bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, creeping soft grass Holcus mollis and bracken Pteridium aquilinum with smaller quantities of bramble Rubus fruticosus and honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum. Small marshes occur near the stream, adding diversity to the site. The wood is also of ornithological interest.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
creeping soft grass Holcus mollis LC grass poaceae
alternate leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium LC herb saxifragaceae
green hellebore Helleborus viridis LC herb ranunculaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum LC herb caprifoliaceae
wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus LC herb amaryllidaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
shining hookeria Hookeria lucens LC moss hookeriales
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
sessile or durmast oak Quercus petraea LC tree fagaceae
lime small leaved Tilia cordata LC tree malvaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas