Hanley Dingle

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Bracken scrub, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Geological Period: Devonian · Rock Type: Sandstone

Description

Area, 30.0 ha. 74.1 ac. Description Hanley Dingle is an area of 'ancient' broadleaved woodland occupying a narrow side valley of the River Terne in north west Worcestershire. It has been selected as a nationally important example of extensive and remarkably diverse semi natural woodland, which includes the finest wooded ravine in the county. The ravine cuts through Old Red Sandstone rocks of Devonian age and this has resulted in a varied topography showing a transition from gently sloping valley tops, through steep valley sides, to the base of the ravine. This has given rise to a range of soil conditions and a diversity in the types of woodland present. The flatter valley top areas support relatively dry, acidic soils, where sessile oak Quercus petraea dominates the canopy with an understorey of hazel Corylus avellana. Both silver and hairy birch Betula pendula and Betula pubescens occur here over an acidic ground flora with plants such as bracken Pteridium aquilinum, great wood rush Luzula sylvatica and wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella. The steeper slopes of the ravine and valley side are covered by damper, more base rich soils. Three types of woodland can be identified here of which two are nationally restricted. The first of these includes ash Fraxinus excelsior as the dominant canopy tree, together with remnants of the formerly abundant wych elm Ulmus glabra. The second is also dominated by ash, but includes both native species of lime in some abundance. The small leaved lime Tilia cordata occurs mainly as coppice, whilst the nationally rare large leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos is represented by some particularly large and ancient pollards within the ravine. The third, less scarce type of woodland includes ash, sessile oak and field maple Acer campestre. Beneath the canopy of these ravine side woodlands is a sparse shrub layer of elder Sambucus nigra, guelder rose Viburnum opulus and dogwood Cornus sanguinea. The ground flora is dominated in many areas by bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. However, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis is locally dominant in the base rich areas and some locally uncommon plants such as meadow saffron Colchicum autumnale and herb paris Paris quadrifolia also occur. In the wettest areas near the base of the ravine another nationally restricted type of woodland occurs. This is dominated by alder Alnus glutinosa, over a ground flora of pendulous sedge Carex pendula, great horsetail Equisetum telmateia and hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum. The damp stream side banks support a rich fern and moss flora. The site also includes a number of basic flushes with both opposite leaved and the rarer alternate leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and C. alternifolium. The lichen flora has a number of interesting species including Thelotrema lepadinum, a species indicative of ancient woodland.

Species mentioned

Plant communities