Launde Big Wood

Also within

Leicestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Bracken scrub

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area,42.15 hectares Description The site contains some of the best remaining examples of ash maple and ash elm woodland in Leicestershire and is representative of ancient semi natural woodland developed on the heavy clay soils of eastern central England. Biology Launde Big Wood has developed for the most part on heavy clay soils derived from the underlying Jurassic Upper Lias and Glacial Boulder Clays; smaller areas have developed on soils derived from glacial sands and gravels. The major part of the wood is dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior and, locally, by wych elm Ulmus glabra. The shrub layer is characterised by the abundance of field maple Acer campestre and hazel Corylus avellana, with sloe Prunus spinosa, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata also occurring. Locally dominated by dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, the ground flora is rich in species typical of ancient clay woods and characterised by the abundance of bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, wood forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and giant bellflower Campanula latifolia. In some areas in the north the stand type changes and is replaced by more open woodland in which the main tree components are pedunculate oak Quercus robur and silver birch Betula pendula. In these areas the ground vegetation is dominated by bracken Pteridium aquilinum with abundant honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum. Less common plants of this community include the hard fern Blechnum spicant. Additional interest is provided by the presence of woodland rides, an old wood bank, a number of ponds and by a number of woodland streams.

Species mentioned

Plant communities