Pads Wood
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SU783162 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 1.57 | 2024-03-22 |
| SU788164 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 20.68 | 2024-03-22 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Area, 21.7 ha. 53.6 ac. Description This ancient woodland lies on Upper Chalk and Clay With Flints and is dominated by a nationally uncommon woodland type. The wood has a rich epiphytic lichen flora. The majority of the woodland is managed under the coppice with standards system and is dominated by a nationally uncommon woodland type, dry ash maple wood. The field layer of this woodland type varies with the current state of management but is often rich. The eastern part of the wood contains less coppice but has a diversity of woodland trees and also has a woodland ride which is rich in flowering plants. Some of the mature trees in Pads Wood support rich epiphytic lichen and moss communities. The site is one of the most important in West Sussex for epiphytic lichens with records for over 70 species. The coppice is chiefly of hazel Corylus avellana but coppiced sweet chestnut Castanea sativa is also present. Standards above the coppice are of pedunculate oak Quercus robur and ash Fraxinus excelsior. Field maple Acer campestre and holly Ilex aquifolium are also present. The field layer is dominated by dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, ground ivy Glechoma hederacea, enchanter’s nightshade Circaea lutetiana, bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and a plant that is closely associated with ancient woodland, Solomon’s seal Polygonatum multiflorum. Other plants present include nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium, wood avens Geum urbanum and wood millet Milium effusum. The eastern part of the wood is a mix of oak, ash, hazel, field maple, whitebeam Sorbus aria, beech Fagus sylvatica and birch Betula pendula above a field layer that is similar to the main woodland type. The woodland ride has a range of the commoner grassland herbs such as meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, self heal Prunella vulgaris and hedge woundwort Stachys sylvatica. The majority of the lichens are epiphytic on old oak and ash standards but some also occur on holly, hazel and field maple. Several species are closely associated with ancient woodland; these include Usnea florida, Catillaria atropurpurea and Thelopsis rubella. The moss flora includes the epiphyte Zygodon rupestris.
Species mentioned
Show the 24 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusInsects 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New forest Zygaena viciae |
Critically Endangered | Lathyrus pratensis |
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus robur |
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| Wood white Leptidea sinapis |
Endangered | Lathyrus pratensis |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Betula spp., Castanea sativa, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Geum urbanum |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, 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 |
| Latticed heath Chiasmia clathrata |
Near Threatened | Lathyrus pratensis |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Betula pendula |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Hyacinthoides non-scripta |
| 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 |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Glechoma hederacea |
| 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.
Plant communities
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Matches 13 species from the description above: Betula pendula, Circaea lutetiana, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Geum urbanum, Glechoma hederacea, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Ilex aquifolium, Mercurialis perennis, Quercus robur, Sorbus aria, Stachys sylvatica
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera 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
Matches 6 species from the description above: Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Geum urbanum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, Stachys sylvatica
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera 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
W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub
Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Show 40 indicator speciesHedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum