Tick Wood and Benthall Edge

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.6252, -2.5146

Also within

Shropshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (3) Favourable (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SJ645030 Unfavourable Recovering 77.98 2021-03-18
SJ650026 Favourable 1.66 2021-03-18
SJ651030 Unfavourable Recovering 7.65 2021-03-18
SJ656032 Favourable 13.39 2021-03-18
SJ664033 Unfavourable Recovering 44.66 2021-03-18

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Silurian · Rock Type: Limestone, Shale

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Area, 142.45 ha. 352 ac. Description An extensive area of ancient native mixed deciduous woodland on north and west facing scarp slopes overlooking the Severn Gorge. Most of this woodland lies on soils derived from Wenlock Limestone and Wenlock Shale of the Silurian Period, but an area at the eastern end of Benthall Edge wood is underlain by the clays and sandstones of the Coal Measures. The variation in geology is reflected in the vegetation. On the Coal Measure sandstones, acidic soils have developed and these support sessile oak Quercus petraea and birch Betula spp. woodland with a ground flora which includes wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa, greater wood rush Luzula sylvatica, bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and hard fern Blechnum spicant. The more base rich soils on the Wenlock Limestone and Shale support more mixed woodland which includes a number of stand types dominated by i ash Fraxinus excelsior and wych elm Ulmus glabra, ii ash and hazel Corylus avellana and iii ash and small leaved lime Tilia cordata. There is also an area dominated by wild cherry Prunus avium. The ash / wych elm stands which contain abundant sessile oak are a woodland type characteristic of the Silurian limestones and calcareous shales of Shropshire and are particularly well developed. The ground flora includes plants such as ramsons Allium ursinum, sanicle Sanicula europaea, sweet woodruff Galium odoratum and dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis which are characteristic of base rich soils. Several uncommon plant species have been recorded, including fingered sedge Carex digitata in its only known Shropshire locality, wood barley Hordelymus europaeus, toothwort Lathraea squamaria, violet helleborine Epipactis purpurata and wild service tree Sorbus torminalis. Although most of the woodland is believed to be primary, there are some areas of secondary woodland which have developed on ground disturbed by quarrying for limestone and clay. There are also areas of scrub and grassland with a rich flora which includes dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria and a number of lime loving plants calcicoles including salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, marjoram Origanum vulgare and pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
hard fern Blechnum spicant LC fern blechnaceae
wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
wood barley Hordelymus europaeus VU grass poaceae
ramson Allium ursinum LC herb liliaceae
pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis LC herb orchidaceae
greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa LC herb asteraceae
violet helleborine Epipactis purpurata LC herb orchidaceae
woodruff Galium odoratum LC herb rubiaceae
dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria LC herb fabaceae
toothwort Lathraea squamaria LC herb orobanchaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
wild marjoram Origanum vulgare LC herb lamiaceae
burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga NT herb apiaceae
salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba VU herb rosaceae
sanicle Sanicula europaea LC herb apiaceae
great wood rush Luzula sylvatica LC rush juncaceae
fingered sedge Carex digitata LC sedge cyperaceae
billberry Vaccinium myrtillus LC shrub ericaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
wild cherry Prunus avium LC tree rosaceae
sessile or durmast oak Quercus petraea LC tree fagaceae
lime small leaved Tilia cordata LC tree malvaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae

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
Speckled footman
Coscinia cribraria
Critically Endangered Vaccinium myrtillus
Black-veined moth
Siona lineata
Critically Endangered Origanum vulgare
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus petraea
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Prunus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Prunus spp.
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
White-letter hairstreak
Satyrium w-album
Endangered Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp.
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Centaurea scabiosa
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Centaurea spp., Galium spp.
Bedstraw hawk-moth
Hyles gallii
Vulnerable Galium spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus glabra
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Poterium sanguisorba
Lead belle
Scotopteryx mucronata
Vulnerable Genista tinctoria
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus petraea
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Quercus spp., Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
Dusky-lemon sallow
Cirrhia gilvago
Near Threatened Ulmus glabra
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Ulmus glabra
Rosy marsh moth
Coenophila subrosea
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Corylus avellana, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Quercus spp., Tilia spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
The Silurian
Eriopygodes imbecilla
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Galium spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Centaurea spp., Pimpinella saxifraga
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Scarce forester
Jordanita globulariae
Near Threatened Centaurea scabiosa
Swallowtail papilio
Papilio machaon
Near Threatened Pimpinella saxifraga
Clay fan-foot
Paracolax tristalis
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Frosted green
Polyploca ridens
Near Threatened Quercus petraea
Scarce hook-tip
Sabra harpagula
Near Threatened Tilia cordata
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Near Threatened Galium spp.
Scotch burnet
Zygaena exulans
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus

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 7 species from the description above: Allium ursinum, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Mercurialis perennis, Origanum vulgare, Poterium sanguisorba, Ulmus glabra

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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Deschampsia flexuosa, Luzula sylvatica, Vaccinium myrtillus

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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 2 species from the description above: Corylus avellana, Mercurialis perennis

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