Little Paxton Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.2586, -0.2888

Also within

Cambridgeshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TL168636 Favourable 44.07 2012-06-26

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area, 44.9 hectares 110.95 ac Description Little Paxton Wood is located approximately three kilometres north west of St Neots. It is situated on heavy calcareous boulder clay and represents a typical example of wet ash maple woodland, which is found over such soils in lowland England. This type of woodland has undergone a significant decline over recent years. In the past the wood was managed as a coppice with standards. This management, the great antiquity of the wood and the seasonally waterlogged soils, have given rise to an extremely diverse flora which includes one nationally restricted species, as well as a number of species which are of very local occurrence in Cambridgeshire. The canopy is dominated by old coppice stools of ash Fraxinus excelsior and field maple Acer campestre. Oak Quercus robur is present as standards but is only frequent in the northern part of the wood. Willows Salix spp. and aspen Populus tremula are present where soils are more waterlogged. The shrub layer is extremely diverse, both in terms of the structure and the species present. Much of it is dominated by derelict hazel Corylus avellana coppice. In other areas both common and midland hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and Crataegus laevigata form a discontinuous shrub layer with associated species including dogwood Cornus sanguinea, wild privet Ligustrum vulgare, crab apple Malus sylvestris, wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana, spindle Euonymus europaeus and guelder rose Viburnum opulus. The ground flora is heavily influenced by the soil moisture content. In the drier parts there are continuous carpets of dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and other species such as enchanter’s nightshade Circaea lutetiana and yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon occur only sparsely. A double wood bank and ditch runs along the western side of the wood and a number of interesting species occur on this feature. These include wood melick Melica uniflora, sweet violet Viola odorata and spiked star of Bethlehem Ornithagalum pyrenacium. The latter is a nationally restricted species which is here at the north eastern limit of its British range. As the soil becomes moister the dog’s mercury becomes less dominant and gradually a greater number of plant species are represented in the ground flora. In the wettest areas of the wood the vegetation is a complex mosaic of species such as primrose Primula vulgaris, pale wood violet Viola reichenbachiana, wood sedge Carex sylvatica, wood avens Geum urbanum, sanicle Sanicula europaea, wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides, herb paris Paris quadrifolia, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and twayblade Neottia ovata. Greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha and violet helleborine Epipactis purpurata are present. A stream and associated areas of unimproved neutral grassland and blackthorn Prunus spinosa scrub provide additional habitats which are of value to wildlife in general.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
wood melick Melica uniflora NT grass poaceae
enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana LC herb onagraceae
spotted orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii LC herb orchidaceae
violet helleborine Epipactis purpurata LC herb orchidaceae
wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides LC herb euphorbiaceae
herb bennet Geum urbanum LC herb rosaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon LC herb lamiaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
common twayblade Neottia ovata NT herb orchidaceae
Bath asparagus Ornithagalum pyrenacium Not listed in GB list herb asparagaceae
herb paris Paris quadrifolia VU herb melanthiaceae
greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha NT herb orchidaceae
primrose Primula vulgaris LC herb primulaceae
sanicle Sanicula europaea LC herb apiaceae
sweet violet Viola odorata LC herb violaceae
early dog violet Viola reichenbachiana LC herb violaceae
wood sedge Carex sylvatica LC sedge cyperaceae
dogwood Cornus sanguinea LC shrub cornaceae
midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata LC shrub rosaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
spindle tree Euonymus europaeus LC shrub celastraceae
wild privet Ligustrum vulgare LC shrub oleaceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana LC shrub caprifoliaceae
gelder rose Viburnum opulus LC shrub caprifoliaceae
field maple Acer campestre LC tree aceraceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
crab apple Malus sylvestris LC tree rosaceae
aspen Populus tremula LC tree salicaceae
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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
High brown fritillary
Fabriciana adippe
Critically Endangered Viola odorata
Pearl-bordered fritillary
Boloria euphrosyne
Endangered Viola odorata
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Dark bordered beauty
Epione vespertaria
Endangered Populus tremula
Maple pug
Eupithecia inturbata
Endangered Acer campestre
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Crataegus monogyna, Malus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula vulgaris
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni
Endangered Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Populus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Viburnum lantana
Scarce chocolate-tip
Clostera anachoreta
Vulnerable Populus spp., Populus tremula
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Populus tremula, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Geum urbanum
Brown hairstreak
Thecla betulae
Vulnerable Prunus spinosa
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Malus sylvestris, Populus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus robur
No common name
Zeugophora turneri
Vulnerable Populus tremula
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Purple emperor
Apatura iris
Near Threatened Populus tremula
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Prunus spinosa
Minor shoulder-knot
Brachylomia viminalis
Near Threatened Populus tremula
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Populus spp.
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Populus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Populus tremula, Prunus spinosa
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, 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

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 15 species from the description above: Circaea lutetiana, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Euonymus europaeus, Fraxinus excelsior, Geum urbanum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Ligustrum vulgare, Malus sylvestris, Mercurialis perennis, Prunus spinosa, Quercus robur, Viburnum lantana

Hedera 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, Prunus spinosa

Hedera 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

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis