Odell Great Wood

Also within

Bedfordshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area, 85.69 hectares 211.74 ac Description A large and mostly unspoilt example of wet ash maple woodland with an exceptionally rich flora. It is in many respects the best example in Bedfordshire of this type of woodland, which has become increasingly scarce throughout its range in southern and eastern England. The dominant tree species are ash Fraxinus excelsior and oak Quercus robur over a well developed shrub layer which includes hazel Corylus avellana, field maple Acer campestre, dogwood Cornus sanguinea and privet Ligustrum vulgare. The diversity of wood species reflects the variation in soils from neutral Boulder Clay in the northern part to more calcareous soils derived from the great Oolite over the majority of the wood. This has given rise to an extremely rich ground flora, including many local rarities such as wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus and herb paris Paris quadrifolia. The extensive and well developed system of rides is another important feature, adding greatly to the value of the site for flowering plants, butterflies and other invertebrates.

Species mentioned