Horse Wood, Mileham

Also within

Norfolk County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Bracken scrub, Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area, 7.1 hectares 17.5 ac. Description Horse Wood is an ancient woodland site on a boulder clay plateau. The wood is probably of primary origin with a structure of coppice with standards. The stand types are mainly wet ash maple wood and the nationally infrequent plateau alder wood. The ground flora is exceptionally diverse and includes a number of rare and uncommon species in great abundance. Although the southern half of the original wood has been re planted with conifers and is excluded from the SSSI, the remaining semi natural stands have been little disturbed. Standard trees are of oak Quercus robur and ash Fraxinus excelsior. Areas of coppice are still cut, though at a reduced rate and the main species involved are ash, maple Acer campestre, alder Alnus glutinosa and oak. There are several large coppice stools in the wood and the rare wild service tree Sorbus torminalis is present. The lightest soils at the northern end of the wood have a ground flora dominated by bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and bramble with wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, lily of the valley Convallaria majalis and bracken. The heaviest soils have a rich flora and are dominated by dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and wood anemone Anemone nemorosa with early purple orchid Orchis mascula, twayblade Neottia ovata, broad leaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine, sanicle Sanicula europaea, hairy woodrush Luzula pilosa and yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon. Herb paris Paris quadrifolia is plentiful throughout the wood. The rides are mostly wide and very wet and have a diverse flora including herb paris, valerian Valeriana officinalis, water mint Mentha aquatica, creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens and tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa present; with meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and water avens Geum rivale.

Species mentioned

Plant communities