Bangrove Wood, Ixworth

Also within

Suffolk County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland

Description

Description Bangrove Wood is a good example of ancient woodland on clay soil. It is mostly former coppice with standards, supporting a wealth of characteristic woodland floor herbs. Ash Fraxinus excelsior, field maple Acer campestre and hazel Corylus avellana are the most abundant tree and shrub species. The ash and field maple have grown up from coppice stools to become large, multi stemmed trees. The hazel has also grown from coppice stools and in some places is starting to become moribund as a result of lack of management. Oak Quercus robur standards are abundant over most of the wood. Several other shrub species occur, notably wild cherry Prunus avium and the midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata. The ground vegetation is typical of an ancient woodland on clay soil in this area of Suffolk. Dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis is the most abundant species with bramble Rubus fruticosus agg taking over where more light penetrates the canopy. Amongst the many other plants are wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, primrose Primula vulgaris, common and pale wood violets Viola riviniana and Viola reichenbachiana, early purple orchids Orchis mascula, sanicle Sanicula europaeand herb paris Paris quadrifolia. Many of the plants found in the ground vegetation of this wood are confined to ancient woodland and are absent from even well established plantations. Bangrove Wood used to contain a large stand of elm Ulmus sp. which was felled following an attack of Dutch Elm Disease. This area has been replanted with oak, ash, field maple and wild cherry. The ground vegetation is currently dominated by brambles but it is hoped that it will recover following canopy closure.

Species mentioned