Clout's Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.5148, -1.8038

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Wiltshire County North Wessex Downs Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SU137795 — Unfavourable Recovering 12.62 2009-05-11

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream, Mixed scrub, Montane scrub

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk, Limestone

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
sparrowhawk Unknown

Description

Area, 11.78 ha. 29.11 ac. Description Clouts Wood lies on the steep scarp of the lower chalk south of Swindon, extending onto the plateau above and valley floor below the slope. The site is a good example of a mainly ash maple hazel and invasive English elm woodland with a rich ground flora. Ash and field maple occur as both coppice and standards, with mature oak standards scattered across the plateau and scarp. Woodland composition varies in relation to topography and land use history. Formerly coppiced wych elm Ulmus glabra stools occur patchily on the steep slope above the valley floor. These have been affected by Dutch elm disease, but limited regrowth and regeneration is occurring. Cherry Prunus avium occurs locally as large multi stemmed trees, with aspen Populus tremula and common lime Tilia vulgaris also present. Woodland on the valley floor includes a fine stand of English elm Ulmus procera in which suckers are regrowing vigorously following the felling of the dead trees. Willow scrub and small areas of planted conifers are also present. Clouts Wood is thought to be a predominantly ancient woodland site, but map evidence and a local abundance of hawthorn indicate that a small area above the scarp may be of 20th century origin. The hazel understorey was formerly managed as coppice, but became progressively derelict this century. Small scale restoration of coppicing is being implemented by the Wiltshire Trust for Nature Conservation. The ground layer is dominated by dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa and nettle Urtica dioica. The rich flora includes several species of national restricted distribution, with herb paris Paris quadrifolia and meadow saffron Colchicum autumnale. Green hellebore Helleborus viridus occurs on the steep north facing slope and wood vetch Vicia sylvatica is recorded from scrub along the woodland margin. Bath asparagus Ornithagalum pyrenacium is locally abundant throughout the wood. The occurrence on chalk of Bath asparagus is of particular interest, as the plant is more usually associated with the oolitic limestone. The northern boundary of the wood is marked by a stream with nearby marshy areas and a small pond. Common reed Phragmites australis fringes the pond, whilst giant horsetail Equisetum telmateia, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and sedges Carex spp. dominate open boggy glades. Zoological investigations have revealed that Clouts Wood supports a diverse woodland fauna, in particular birds and invertebrates. The resident bird community includes treecreeper Certhia familiaris, sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, tawny owl Strix aluco and great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major. Areas of dead elm wood provide conditions in which many invertebrates thrive.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
treecreeper Certhia familiaris LC (Breeding) bird-creeper certhiidae
sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus NT (Breeding) bird-hawk falconidae
tawny owl Strix aluco NT (Breeding) bird-owl strigidae
great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major LC (Breeding) bird-woodpecker picidae
tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa LC grass poaceae
common reed Phragmites australis LC grass poaceae
autumn crocus or meadow saffron Colchicum autumnale NT herb colchicaceae
great horsetail Equisetum telmateia LC herb equisetaceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
green hellebore Helleborus viridus Not listed in GB list herb ranunculaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
Bath asparagus Ornithagalum pyrenacium Not listed in GB list herb asparagaceae
herb paris Paris quadrifolia VU herb melanthiaceae
nettle Urtica dioica LC herb urticaceae
wood vetch Vicia sylvatica Not listed in GB list herb fabaceae
aspen Populus tremula LC tree salicaceae
wild cherry Prunus avium LC tree rosaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae
English elm Ulmus procera LC tree ulmaceae

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Hedera 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

Hedera 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