Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses

Also within

Isle of Wight County Isle Of Wight Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Area, 10.33 hectares Description Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses cover steep north and west facing chalk slopes. Above the junction of the two copses is a small, steeply sloping area of chalk grassland. The woodland represents one of the best examples of dry calcareous ash maple woodland over chalk on the Isle of Wight and displays an interesting woodland flora characteristic of ancient chalk woods. The chalk grassland associated with the woodland is rich in downland species. The tree canopy over much of Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses is dominated by very large, well spaced ash Fraxinus excelsior with intervening younger ash derived from huge old coppice stools. In places the canopy is diversified by pedunculate oak Quercus robur, sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and a stand of wych elm Ulmus glabra where a small spring rises at the base of Bloodstone Copse. The shrub layer is composed of hazel Corylus avellana and field maple Acer campestre coppice with a variety of calcicole shrubs such as spindle Euonymus europaeus and wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana. The dense shade shed by the canopy and shrub layer has suppressed the ground flora which is dominated by the shade tolerant dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and includes the rare toothwort Lathraea squamaria and bird’s nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis, both species characteristic of derelict hazel coppice on chalk. The chalk grassland that borders the south of the wood, on steep north facing ground, consists of rather tall upgrazed grassland dominated by red fescue Festuca rubra and glaucous sedge Carex flacca and includes oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, knapweed Centaurea nigra, bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, cowslip Primula veris and autumn gentian Gentianella amarella. This grassland is rich in butterflies including an important colony of the rare Duke of Burgundy fritillary Hamearis lucina one of only three known Isle of Wight locations and the chalkhill blue Polyommatus coridon.

Species mentioned