Allexton Wood

Also within

Leicestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area, 26 ha. 64.2 ac. Description The site comprises one of the best remaining ash hazel maple ancient coppice woodlands in Leicestershire and is representative of ancient semi natural woodlands developed on the heavy clays of eastern central England. Biology Allexton Wood once formed part of the old Lieghfield Forest which formerly covered extensive areas of east Leicestershire. Developed on soils derived from Glacial Boulder Clays and clays of the Jurassic Upper Lias it is dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior and locally by elm Ulmus procera, with pedunculate oak Quercus robur being fairly widespread. The shrub layer is characterised by the abundance of field maple Acer campestre, hazel Corylus avellana and sloe Prunus spinosa. Dogwood Cornus sanguineand elder Sambucus nigra are fairly frequent. The ground vegetation, which is dominated by dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, is characteristic of ancient clay woods and includes such typical plant species as giant bellflower Campanula latifolia, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon, toothwort Lathraea squamaria, wood millet Milium effusum and primrose Primula vulgaris. A number of small watercourses flow through the wood and these possess populations of the opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. A network of rides adds diversity to the wood which is also of interest for its breeding bird community and invertebrate fauna.

Species mentioned