Seller's Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.0037, -1.2227

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SK521454 Unfavourable Recovering 8.88 2009-05-12
SK523455 Unfavourable Recovering 2.07 2009-05-12
SK524456 Unfavourable Recovering 2.92 2009-05-12

Description

Description The site is a fine example of broad leaved semi natural woodland and is of Regional importance. Biology The majority of the woodland is characterised by the preponderance of ash Fraxinus excelsior and wych elm Ulmus glabra although, locally, the wood is dominated by sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna are the most abundant of a wide variety of shrub species while the diverse field layer vegetation contains a large number of plant species characteristic of lowland ancient woodland, such as giant bellflower Campanula latifolia, early purple orchid Orchis mascula and yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon. In places this woodland structure gives way to one dominated by birch Betula pendula with oak Quercus robur, hazel and rowan Sorbus aucuparia all common. Here the field layer vegetation is dominated by bracken Pteridium aquilinum, although wood anemone Anemone nemorosa is locally abundant. Additional interest is provided by the presence of a number of well vegetated ponds which contain a diverse aquatic fauna and which are also valuable drinking areas for woodland birds and mammals.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
wood anemone Anemone nemorosa LC herb ranunculaceae
giant bellflower Campanula latifolia VU herb campanulaceae
yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon LC herb lamiaceae
early purple orchid Orchis mascula LC herb orchidaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
rowan Sorbus aucuparia LC tree rosaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae

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