Gipping Great Wood

Also within

Suffolk County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Description Gipping great Wood is an ancient coppice with standards wood on a plateau site situated close to the headwaters of the River Gipping. The wood is a good example of the North East Suffolk type of hornbeam wood with several giant coppice stools. A complex mosaic of stand types is present including extensive areas of acid pedunculate oak hazel ash woodland and pedunculate oak hornbeam woodland with patches of wet ash maple woodland and invasive elm. The ground flora is characteristic of an ancient woodland site on slightly calcareous boulder clay and includes two uncommon species. The coppice has remained uncut for many years but is generally well preserved and there are good stands of virtually pure hornbeam. Standards of oak and ash are locally close set and there is little coppice due to the dense shade in these areas. The ground flora is dominated by dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis with frequent bramble Rubus fruticosus agg., bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, wood millet Milium effusum and enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana are also present. The most notable plant is the uncommon thin spiked wood sedge Carex strigosa and the site is considered to hold the greatest concentration of this species in Eastern England. A small population of oxlip Primula elatior, a scarce species here at the limit of its distribution, is also present. The rides are wet and densely shaded but a few characteristic plants occur including water mint Mentha aquatica, brooklime Veronica beccabunga and meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria. A small pond and associated stream provide additional interest.

Species mentioned

Plant communities