Rabbit Wood

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland

Description

Description An area of ancient primary woodland, whose recorded history goes back to the Norman period when it formed part of the Royal Forest of Feckenham, which covered much of this part of Worcestershire. The woodland lies on heavy clay soils and is largely dominated by pedunculate oak Quercus robur but includes other species such as birch Betula pendula, ash Fraxinus excelsior, aspen Populus tremula and field maple Acer campestre. The shrub layer is mainly dominated by hazel Corylus avellana, which was formerly coppiced, but also contains a wide range of other native species including hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, spindle Euonymus europaeus and privet Ligustrum vulgare. The ground flora is rich and varied and includes a number of species uncommon in this part of the West Midlands, such as herb paris Paris quadrifolia, great butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, early purple orchid Orchis mascula, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuschii and common twayblade Neottia ovata.

Species mentioned