Elsworth Wood

Also within

Cambridgeshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area, 7.2 hectares 17.8 ac Description Elsworth Wood is located approximately 13 kilometres west of Cambridge. It is the surviving fragment of a curious ring shaped wood unusually situated on a ridge between two valleys. This wood has probably existed since the late 13th Century. Three types of woodland are represented, all of which are nationally uncommon. It is the best example in Cambridgeshire of a wood whose canopy is dominated by field maple Acer campestre. This type of woodland appears not to be known on the continent and therefore has international significance. In addition there is a good population of oxlip Primula elatior which is restricted to ancient woodlands in parts of East Anglia and the East Midlands. The wood is also known to be of importance for its invertebrate fauna and a number of nationally uncommon beetles have been recorded. The canopy of Elsworth Wood is mostly dominated by field maple which is present as coppice with standards. Some oak Quercus robur standards are present in the southern part of the wood but ash Fraxinus excelsior is largely absent, only occurring as young trees in the extreme north of the wood. A small area of invasive elm Ulmus sp. is present and although this has been affected by Dutch Elm Disease, young suckers are again springing up. In addition there is an area of coppiced wych elm Ulmus glabra, of a type widely scattered in Suffolk and Essex but rare in Cambridgeshire. In the past the woodland has been managed as a coppice with standards and this practice still continues. The shrub layer is varied, with coppiced hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna being the most common species. Other species which also occur include elder Sambucus nigra, crab apple Malus sylvestris and dogwood Cornus sanguinea. The ground flora is typical of a wood on calcareous boulder clay, being largely dominated by dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta. More notable species which occur include oxlip Primula elatior, pignut Conopodium majus, figwort Scrophularia nodosa, nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium, stinking iris Iris foetidissima and broad leaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine. Studies carried out on the invertebrate fauna have revealed the presence of a number of nationally uncommon species, most notable of which to date is the rove beetle Stichoglossa semirufa. A pond and stream provide additional habitats which are of value to wildlife generally.

Species mentioned

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.

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