Titsal Wood, Shadingfield

Also within

Suffolk County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Description Tit'sal Wood is an ancient woodland on boulder clay overlain by sand. The site is the most interesting example of the sloping type of East Suffolk hornbeam wood. It has a rich flora, including ancient woodland plants and one scarce species. Pedunculate oak hornbeam woodland of the ash maple variant is the dominant stand type over much of the wood. Young standard trees of oak Quercus robur and ash Fraxinus excelsior are frequent. There are some areas of pure hornbeam Carpinus betulus coppice but this is usually mixed with ash, field maple Acer campestre and hazel Corylus avellana. Small stands of mixed ash wood and suckering elm wood are also present. The ground flora is dominated by bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. with frequent patches of dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, ground ivy Glechoma hederacea and wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella. Interesting species include common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, primrose Primula vulgaris, Wood Bitter cress Cardamine flexuosa and the rare Thin spiked wood sedge Carex strigosa. A wide ride bisects the wood. This has a distinctive flora that includes creeping soft grass Holcus mollis, remote sedge Carex remota and creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens.

Species mentioned