Hay Wood, Whepstead

Also within

Suffolk County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area, 10.5 ha. 25.9 ac. Description Hay Wood is a small ancient coppice with standards wood, lying on poorly drained boulder clay soils. The wood contains a good example of the uncommon ash maple lime stand type with several giant coppice stools. It is the most westerly location known in Suffolk for small leaved lime Tilia cordata. Wet ash maple woodland covers an extensive area with localised stands of Lineage Elm. The rich ground flora contains several ancient woodland plants including oxlip Primula elatior; a scarce local species. Standard trees are mainly of young ash with a few oak and occasional small leaved lime and sallow. The tall coppice is composed chiefly of small leaved Lime, field maple and ash with an under storey of hazel. Small areas of sallow and Lineage Elmare also present. Shrub species include midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata, spindle Euonymus europaeus and wild crab apple Malus sylvestris. The ground flora is dominated by dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and bramble Rubus fruticosus with abundant tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa and wood anemone Anemone nemorosa. A variety of interesting woodland plants are present including wood spruge Euphorbia amygdaloides, herb paris Paris quadrifolia, ramsons Allium ursinum, early purple orchid Orchis mascula, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and twayblade Neottia ovata. The rides are rather narrow and over shadowed, but are well vegetated. rough stalked meadow grass Poa trivialis and tufted hair grass are dominant with wet areas distinguished by meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, figwort Scrophularia nodosa, water avens Geum rivale and wood sedge Carex sylvatica. The wood supports a small population of fallow deer.

Species mentioned