Ryton Wood

Also within

Warwickshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Bracken scrub, Coppiced woodland

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Description Ryton Wood is an oak Quercus robur woodland lying on the Midland clays of central Warwickshire. It has been selected as a representative example of a lowland hazel / pendunculate oak woodland. Most of the wood comprises even aged oak standards over hazel coppice Corylus avellana with silver birch Betula pendula and downy birch Betula pubescens. The rich shrub layer is dominated by hazel but there is also hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, holly Ilex aquifolium and rowan Sorbus aucuparia. The ground flora is dominated by bracken Pteridium aquilinum particularly in the more open areas associated with silver birch. Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta, bramble Rubus fruticosus and honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum are abundant and other typical species which occur are tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, wood millet Milium effusum and yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum. Patches of woodland with more abundant ash Fraxinus excelsior and field maple Acer campestre are found throughout the site. These patches have a more irregular structure, most clearly seen in the area known as Shrubs Wood. Of particular interest is the occurrence of several areas of small leaved lime Tilia cordata. This is in the form of coppice stools, relict coppice, small trees derived from layers and isolated maidens. The lime is associated with oak, silver birch, aspen Populus tremula and sallow Salix cinerea. The ground flora in these areas is dominated by bracken, honeysuckle and tufted hair grass. The woods are also of ornithological interest having a diverse population of breeding birds which includes six species of warblers. Nightingales Luscinia megarhynchos have bred regularly as have tree pipits Anthus trivialis and the three woodpecker, green woodpecker Picus viridis, great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major and lesser spotted woodpecker Dryobates minor. The site also supports breeding birds of prey.

Species mentioned

Plant communities