Bradfield Woods
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL916578 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 4.73 | 2007-11-29 |
| TL918586 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 1.91 | 2022-07-20 |
| TL919583 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 4.72 | 2022-07-20 |
| TL924576 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 6.73 | 2010-11-16 |
| TL928573 | — | Favourable | 21.17 | 2009-09-15 |
| TL934575 | — | Favourable | 42.14 | 2010-03-25 |
Habitats
Ancient woodland, Bracken scrub, Coppiced woodland, Hedgerow scrub
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Glacial Till
Landscape processes: Glacial
Description
Area, 83.0 ha. 205.0 ac. Description These woods are almost entirely of ancient origin and contain the largest area of actively worked coppice with standards woodland in Suffolk. Felsham Hall Wood and Monk’s Park, a compartmented former deer park, have a long history of continuous coppicing dating from before 1252 and this, coupled with their great complexity of soil types and drainage has produced a tremendous diversity of species that would otherwise be unable to co exist. Over 370 species of plants have been recorded, a total surpassed only in two or three other locations. Chensil Grove and Hedge Wood are satellites to this main area of woodland. Felsham Hall Wood and Monk’s Park contain a complex mosaic of stand types including extensive areas of plateau alder woodland and acid pedunculate oak hazel ash woodland with patches of wet ash maple, acid birch ash lime and lowland hazel pedunculate oak woodland on the more acidic soils. Standards are mainly of oak Quercus robur, ash Fraxinus excelsior, silver birch Betula pendula and alder Alnus glutinosa and are mostly less than 70 years old. They form a sparse canopy over a mixed coppice that varies from newly cut to about 30 years growth, in irregular panels. Ash, field maple Acer campestre, cherry Prunus avium and hazel Corylus avellana predominate on calcareous boulder clay soils, whilst the more acidic soils support alder, silver birch, downy birch Betula pubescens, small leaved lime Tilia cordata, hornbeam Carpinus betulus and various species of elm and sallow. Associated shrubs include wild crab apple Malus sylvestris, midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata, spindle tree Euonymus europaeus and holly Ilex aquifolium. A number of older, pollard trees are found on the boundary banks. An immensely rich flora has developed under the influence of coppicing. Dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis or bramble Rubus fruticosus are generally dominant beneath mature coppice with areas of bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, primrose Primula vulgaris, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa and wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella. Bracken glades have developed on sand lenses and woodland clearings beneath scattered silver birch and hawthorn. Elsewhere there are large numbers of many rare and uncommon ancient woodland plants such as oxlip Primula elatior, herb paris Paris quadrifolia, ramsons Allium ursinum, water avens Geum rivale, wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides and several species of orchids. A very long list of fungal species has also been recorded in the woods, including two species not previously recorded elsewhere in Britain. The rides are wide and well maintained with a distinctive flora that includes pendulous sedge Carex pendula, hairy wood rush Luzula pilosa, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium. They provide a valuable habitat for insects, particularly moths and butterflies and species of note include the white admiral and green and purple hairstreak butterflies. The woods support a range of woodland birds, including a substantial breeding population of nightingales. Other notable animal species include the dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius which, along with other small mammal species, appears to be favoured by the coppice management. Additional variety is provided by a substantial pond and by a glade known as Hewitt’s Meadow. There are also many small streams, pools and temporary wet hollows which support bryophytes, ferns and other plants requiring high humidity.
Species mentioned
Show the 30 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas
W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub
Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Show 40 indicator speciesHedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera 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