Woodshuts Wood

Also within

Herefordshire County WYE VALLEY (England) Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Rock Type: Limestone

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Area, 8.98 ha. 22.2 ac. Description The woodlands of the lower Wye Valley form one of the most important areas for woodland conservation in Britain, comparable with the Caledonian pinewoods, the oceanic oak woods of Western Britain, the New Forest and the mixed coppices of East Anglia. Semi natural woodland is abundant and virtually continuous along the gorge. The woods are a mixture of many types, some of which are very localised, e.g. the lime sessile oak stands on limestone, beech stands on both acid and alkaline soils in which lime Tilia spp. elm Ulmus spp., oak Quercus spp. and other species share dominance. Most woods are a rich mixture of stand types which are believed to be similar in composition to the original natural woods of the valley. Many rare and local species are present, including some of the rarest native tree species, e.g. large leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos, whitebeams Sorbus spp. and trees close to the edge of their European range, e.g. hornbeam Carpinus betulus and beech Fagus sylvatica. Furthermore these woods sit in a matrix of unimproved grassland and other semi natural habitats which, together with the woods, make the Wye Valley one of the most diverse, rich and attractive areas in southern Britain. Woodshuts Wood is a fine example of ancient primary woodland developed on soils derived from Woolhope Limestone which forms the Woolhope Dome. Most of its woodland is dominated by sessile oak Quercus petraea associated with birch Betula pendula over an understorey of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and hazel Corylus avellana. In the north eastern part of the wood small leaved lime Tilia cordata is more dominant with birch and field maple Acer campestre as associates. The woodland also contains a rich variety of other tree and shrub species including ash Fraxinus excelsior, wild cherry Prunus avium, crab apple Malus sylvestris, dogwood Cornus sanguinea and spindle Euonymus europaeus. In the wetter parts of the wood, alder Alnus glutinosa aspen Populus tremula and guelder rose Viburnum opulus are present. The ground flora is also diverse, reflecting the variation in soil conditions. Over 170 species of flowering plants have been recorded from the wood and although no particularly rare species occur, a number of species indicating the ancient origins of the woodland are present. These include yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella and primrose Primula vulgaris. The last mentioned species along with bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta are abundant over most of the wood. Other less common species such as spurge laurel Daphne laureola also occur.

Species mentioned