Mains Wood

Also within

Herefordshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Sandstone

Description

Area, 8.49 ha. 21 ac. Description A remnant of ancient primary woodland lying on the north eastern edge of the Woolhope Hills. It is part of the larger Mains Wood complex and is the only remaining piece unaffected by modem forestry. The woodland lies on neutral to acidic soils overlying the Old Red Sandstone. It is mainly dominated by sessile oak Quercus petraea, but includes other species such as ash Fraxinus excelsior, birch Betula pendula, yew Taxus baccata, rowan Sorbus aucuparia and guelder rose Viburnum opulus. Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa is also present and managed as coppice. The ground flora includes a number of species which are locally rare or uncommon in this part of the West Midlands, including violet helleborine Epipactis purpurata, broad helleborine Epipactis helleborine and birds nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis. In the more acidic parts of the woodland, ling Calluna vulgaris and bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus occur. The woodland is noted for the richness of its lower plant groups particularly ferns and fungi. The ferns include hard fern Blechnum spicant and lemon scented fern Thelypteris limbosperma, species more characteristic of upland areas and rare in this part of Herefordshire. Over 120 species of fungi have been recorded from the Wood, including several very uncommon species such as Pseudoboletus parasiticus, Cortinarius sanguineus and Pholiota tuberculosa.

Species mentioned