Owston Woods

Also within

Leicestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area, 141.11 ha. 348.69 ac. Description The largest continuous area of semi natural woodland in Leicestershire containing an unusually high diversity of woodland types representative of ancient woods on clay soils in central eastern England. Biology Owston Woods are developed primarily on soils derived from Jurassic Upper Lias and Glacial Boulder Clays. Although subjected to silvicultural modification, particularly in the west, much of the ancient semi natural woodland remains. Ash Fraxinus excelsior and hazel Corylus avellana characterise large areas, but smaller areas are characterised by alder Alnus glutinosa and others by a mixture of ash, field maple Acer campestre, small leaved lime Tilia cordata and birch Betula pendula. The ground flora is locally dominated by bramble Rubus fruticosus, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and is exceptionally rich, particularly in the east, with frequent hairy wood rush Luzula pilosa, greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, twayblade Neottia ovata, early purple orchid Orchis mascula and ramsons Allium ursinum. A number of small watercourses cross the site and these carry populations of the opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. The list of moths, beetles and other insects recorded from these woods is impressive and includes a number of rare or localised species. Of additional interest is the variety of the breeding bird community, the small mammal fauna and the presence of wooded rides.

Species mentioned