Well Rough and Long Plantation

Also within

Cheshire CountyClwyd County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area, 8.6 ha. 21.3 ac. Description Cheshire is a poorly wooded county and many of the woodlands of the highest wildlife value survive in steep valleys or ‘cloughs’. The upper slopes of the cloughs usually have leached acidic soils derived from glacial deposits, whilst the lower slopes which cut through Keuper Marl are more base rich. The variations in soils and drainage result in dramatic differences in the species composition of the canopy and ground flora, often over short distances. This increased diversity adds considerably to the wildlife value of the woodland. This is one of the few woods in the wych Brook valley that has not been modified by conifer planting. Most of the wood lies on steep slopes on the north banks of the wych Brook and it includes the best example of a wet ash Fraxinus excelsior and field maple Acer campestre wood in Cheshire. At the western end pedunculate oak Quercus robur is dominant with many mature field maple and some ash. The eastern half is dominated almost exclusively by ash with much small leaved lime Tilia cordata as mature coppice stools. hazel Corylus avellana, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and elder Sambucus nigra all occur in the shrub layer. Most of the ground flora is typical of base rich soils and includes a number of species which are uncommon in Cheshire, for example early purple orchid Orchis mascula, herb paris Paris quadrifolia and nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium. The last species is at the northern limit of its range and not known from any other site in the county. There are extensive wet areas dominated by alder Alnus glutinosa with pendulous sedge Carex pendula covering much of the ground. Yellow iris Iris pseudacorus, reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea and tussock sedge Carex paniculata are also locally abundant.

Species mentioned