Sturt Copse

Also within

Oxfordshire County Cotswolds Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area, 5.3 hectares 12.9 ac Description The site is an important relic of the ancient hanging ash wych elm woodlands of the Evenlode Valley and is noted for several uncommon plants. It is a distinctive and exceptional example of the few remaining woods of this group on the steep Jurassic limestone slope above the river. Structurally, it is the most intact. The wood is characteristic of the biologically rich ash wych elm woodlands of the south west limestones of Britain. It is typified by huge, ancient coppice stools of ash and wych elm the latter now dead in the upper parts due to Dutch elm disease and large old pedunculate oak pollards and standards. Some of the stools carry the epiphyte polypody Polypodium interjectum, which is uncommon in the area. The shrub layer is diverse and dominated mostly by old hazel coppice and locally by elder. The ground flora is largely dominated by dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and locally by ramsons Allium ursinum, nettle Urtica dioica and bramble Rubus fruticosus. Notable species which have a nationally limited distribution include yellow star of Bethlehem Gagea lutea, toothwort Lathraea squamaria and hard shield fern Polystichum aculeatum. Opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium indicates wetter woodland soils at the bottom of the slope. The bryophyte flora and invertebrate fauna of the Evenlode woodlands, recorded in the 1950s, include national and local rarities.

Species mentioned

Plant communities