Goat Lodge
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK084265 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 12.09 | 2009-06-12 |
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| grey heron | Breeding |
Description
Area, 12.02 ha. 29.70 ac. Description Goat Lodge comprises the only part of the once extensive Bagot Forest that has not been planted with conifers and a meadow thought to be a former deer lawn within the forest which is notable for its population of wild daffodils Narcissus pseudonarcissus. The woodland consists of an even aged stand of pedunculate oak Quercus robur and sessile oak Q. petraea with occasional silver birch Betula pendula and alder Alnus glutinosa. It is primarily of interest for the heronry (heron), but provides a refuge for a range of oak woodland flora and fauna in a locality where extensive re-afforestation with conifers has occurred. The heronry is the largest in the county, supporting a nationally important concentration of breeding grey heron Ardea cinerea. The adjoining grassland is of some antiquity as evidenced by the vigorous population of wild daffodil. This locally rare plant has declined nationally through the cultivation of old grassland. The present practice of late hay cutting and aftermath grazing favours this species and other spring flowers.
Species mentioned
Show the 5 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| grey heron | Ardea cinerea | LC (NonBreeding), NT (Breeding) | bird-heron | ardeidae |
| wild daffodil | Narcissus pseudonarcissus | LC | herb | amaryllidaceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| birch | Betula pendula | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus robur |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Quercus spp. |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus robur |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Common fan-foot Pechipogo strigilata |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| White prominent Leucodonta bicoloria |
Regionally Extinct | Betula spp. |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.