Owston Woods
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK783062 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 38.19 | 2023-04-12 |
| SK786065 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 14.86 | 2023-04-11 |
| SK788066 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 18.89 | 2023-04-12 |
| SK790063 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 13.08 | 2023-04-12 |
| SK794065 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 23.36 | 2023-04-12 |
| SK800067 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 31.17 | 2023-04-12 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Jurassic
Landscape processes: Glacial
Description
Area, 141.11 ha. 348.69 ac. Description The largest continuous area of semi natural woodland in Leicestershire containing an unusually high diversity of woodland types representative of ancient woods on clay soils in central eastern England. Biology Owston Woods are developed primarily on soils derived from Jurassic Upper Lias and Glacial Boulder Clays. Although subjected to silvicultural modification, particularly in the west, much of the ancient semi natural woodland remains. Ash Fraxinus excelsior and hazel Corylus avellana characterise large areas, but smaller areas are characterised by alder Alnus glutinosa and others by a mixture of ash, field maple Acer campestre, small leaved lime Tilia cordata and birch Betula pendula. The ground flora is locally dominated by bramble Rubus fruticosus, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and is exceptionally rich, particularly in the east, with frequent hairy wood rush Luzula pilosa, greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, twayblade Neottia ovata, early purple orchid Orchis mascula and ramsons Allium ursinum. A number of small watercourses cross the site and these carry populations of the opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. The list of moths, beetles and other insects recorded from these woods is impressive and includes a number of rare or localised species. Of additional interest is the variety of the breeding bird community, the small mammal fauna and the presence of wooded rides.
Species mentioned
Show the 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ramson | Allium ursinum | LC | herb | liliaceae |
| opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage | Chrysosplenium oppositifolium | LC | herb | saxifragaceae |
| bluebell | Hyacinthoides non-scripta | LC | herb | liliaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| common twayblade | Neottia ovata | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| early purple orchid | Orchis mascula | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| greater butterfly orchid | Platanthera chlorantha | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| bramble | Rubus fruticosus | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| hairy wood-rush | Luzula pilosa | LC | rush | juncaceae |
| field maple | Acer campestre | LC | tree | aceraceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| birch | Betula pendula | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| lime small leaved | Tilia cordata | LC | tree | malvaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Rubus fruticosus |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Betula spp., Corylus avellana |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Rubus fruticosus |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Rubus fruticosus |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp. |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Tilia 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. |
| Scarce hook-tip Sabra harpagula |
Near Threatened | Tilia cordata |
| 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.