Newell Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.7180, -0.5156

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Lincolnshire CountyRutland County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1) Favourable (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TF002143 — Unfavourable Recovering 8.62 2009-09-11
TF002145 — Favourable 9.59 2009-09-11
TF005142 — Favourable 9.95 2009-09-11
TF005144 — Favourable 5.18 2009-09-11

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Habitats

Bracken scrub

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry

Landscape processes: Coastal, Glacial

Description

Area,34.16 hectares 84.4 ac Description The site comprises one of the best remaining examples of acid lowland woodland in Leicestershire and is representative of semi natural woodland developed on light soils in Central and Eastern England. Biology A fine example of oak birch woodlands developed primarily on glacial sands and gravels, but partly also on clays and siltstones of the Upper Estuarine series of the great Oolite. Although modified by past quarrying the wood retains a basic semi natural structure being dominated by pedunculate oak Quercus robur and birch Betula pendula, but with a stand of sessile oak Quercus petraea and with small leaved lime Tilia cordata occurring locally in small hollows. Towards the south, ash Fraxinus excelsior and hazel Corylus avellana become more abundant. The ground flora is dominated in some areas by bracken Pteridium aquilinum, but elsewhere there is greater diversity and plants such as wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella and early purple orchid Orchis mascula occur, together with a number of plant species which are uncommon in Leicestershire. Additional interest is provided by a number of open areas, some of which have developed a grassland flora containing species characteristic of calcareous soils such as rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and marjoram Origanum vulgare.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
early purple orchid Orchis mascula LC herb orchidaceae
wild marjoram Origanum vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella LC herb oxalidaceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
sessile or durmast oak Quercus petraea LC tree fagaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
lime small leaved Tilia cordata LC tree malvaceae

Plant communities

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas