Tring Woodlands
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP917100 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 24.19 | 2022-03-16 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Area,23.8 hectares 58.8 ac Description This site is one of the best examples in Hertfordshire of ancient semi natural beech Fagus sylvatica woodland, a habitat which is in decline nationally. The woods lie at the eastern end of the Chilterns on the steep north west facing Middle Chalk escarpment and extend onto the plateau capped by clay with flints. There is a rich flora present, indicating that the woodland has been long established. Associated with beech high forest are areas of standard ash Fraxinus excelsior and pedunculate oak Quercus robur. Holly Ilex aquifolium and yew Taxus baccata comprise the sparse shrub layer on upper slopes, though lower down there is more variety with dogwood Cornus sanguinea, field maple Acer campestre, wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana and coppiced hazel Corylus avellana. A small mixed plantation of larch Larix decidua and species native to the site is situated on the plateau and retains elements of the established plant community. The diverse flora is dominated by woodruff Galium odoratum, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and brambles Rubus fruticosus with frequent sanicle Sanicula europaea and wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides. Notable amongst twenty species of grass present are wood melick Melica uniflora and two local species, wood barley Hordelymus europaeus and lesser hairy brome Bromopsis benekenii. In the central part of the wood floral diversity is enhanced by the presence of more restricted species such as yellow birds nest Hypopitys monotropa, common wintergreen Pyrola minor and narrow lipped helleborine Epipactis leptochila at one of its few county localities. Two other typical beech wood orchids present are fly orchid Ophrys insectifera and white helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium. A good range of woodland bird species have been recorded including breeding tawny owl Strix aluco and great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major.
Species mentioned
Show the 26 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus robur |
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Viburnum lantana |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Larix spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix spp., Quercus spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus robur |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| Larch pug Eupithecia lariciata |
Near Threatened | Larix decidua |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | 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 | Galium 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
W12 — Beech wood
Fagus sylvatica-Mercurialis perennis woodland
Matches 15 species from the description above: Anemone nemorosa, Cephalanthera damasonium, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Galium odoratum, Ilex aquifolium, Melica uniflora, Mercurialis perennis, Quercus robur, Sanicula europaea, Taxus baccata, Viburnum lantana
Show 91 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Carpinus betulus, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Aesculus hippocastanum, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus avium, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Buxus sempervirens, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Viburnum opulus, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Crataegus monogyna, Daphne laureola, Carex flacca, Carex sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Fissidens taxifolius, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thamnobryum alopecurum, Tamus communis, Anthriscus sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium, Sanicula europaea, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Mycelis muralis, Solidago virgaurea, Cynoglossum officinale, Alliaria petiolata, Campanula trachelium, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum hirsutum, Iris foetidissima, Ajuga reptans, Glechoma hederacea, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Epilobium montanum, Cephalanthera damasonium, Neottia nidus-avis, Neottia ovata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus bulbosus, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium odoratum, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas
W14 — Beech wood, Wood pasture
Fagus sylvatica-Rubus fruticosus woodland
Matches 11 species from the description above: Anemone nemorosa, Corylus avellana, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Galium odoratum, Ilex aquifolium, Melica uniflora, Mercurialis perennis, Quercus robur, Taxus baccata
Show 76 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Prunus avium, Sorbus aria, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Sambucus nigra, Ruscus aculeatus, Ligustrum vulgare, Carex remota, Carex sylvatica, Luzula pilosa, Mnium hornum, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens taxifolius, Brachythecium rutabulum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Arum maculatum, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Stellaria media agg., Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Hypericum pulchrum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Epipactis helleborine, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium odoratum, Galium verum, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus giganteus, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas
W15 — Beech wood, Wood pasture
Fagus sylvatica-Deschampsia flexuosa woodland
Matches 4 species from the description above: Fagus sylvatica, Ilex aquifolium, Quercus robur, Taxus baccata
Show 54 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Calluna vulgaris, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ruscus aculeatus, Carex pilulifera, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum formosum, Tetraphis pellucida, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Lepidozia reptans, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia squamules, Lonicera periclymenum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Rubus fruticosus agg., Melanpyrum pratense, Agrostis capillaris, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata