The Hudnalls

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.7333, -2.6655

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (10)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO531025 Favourable 2.21 2015-03-25
SO531034 Favourable 2.05 2015-03-25
SO532024 Favourable 1.15 2015-03-25
SO532030 Favourable 29.4 2023-03-31
SO532034 Favourable 0.96 2015-03-25
SO540040 Favourable 39.19 2015-03-25
SO544046 Favourable 18.71 2014-06-11
SO546042 Favourable 18.71 2014-06-11
SO549039 Favourable 4.87 2015-03-25
SO549043 Favourable 18.71 2014-06-11

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Rock Type: Conglomerate, Limestone

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
buzzard Breeding
pied flycatcher Breeding
sparrowhawk Breeding
wood warbler Breeding

Description

Area, 94.4 ha. 233.3 ac. Description The woodlands of the lower Wye Valley form one of the most important areas for woodland conservation in Britain, comparable with the Caledonian pinewoods, the oceanic oak woods of Western Britain, the New Forest and the mixed coppices of East Anglia. Semi natural woodland is abundant and virtually continuous along the gorge. The woods are a mixture of many types, some of which are very localised, for example the lime sessile oak stands on limestone, beech stands on both acid and alkaline soils in which lime Tilia spp., elm Ulmus spp., oak Quercus spp. and other species share dominance. Most woods are a rich mixture of stand types which are believed to be similar in composition to the original natural woods, of the valley. Many rare and local species are present, including some of the rarest native tree species, for example large leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos, whitebeams Sorbus spp. and trees close to the edge of their European range, for example hornbeam Carpinus betulus and beech Fagus sylvatica. Furthermore these woods sit in a matrix of unimproved grassland and other semi natural habitats which, together with the woods, make the Wye Valley one of the most diverse, rich and attractive areas in southern Britain. The woodlands of the Hudnalls mainly occupy steep north and west facing valley sides along the River Wye and one of its tributaries, the Mork Brook, between Bigsweir and Brockweir. Only The Tuffs to the north lies on flatter alluvial ground. The soils are derived from the underlying Old Red Sandstones, quartz conglomerate and more recent Head material. Although generally acidic in character, some more alkaline, flushed soils are associated with a number of small springs and streams. The variety of rock and soil types together with a complex management history has resulted in one of the most diverse areas of ancient semi natural woodland in the Wye Valley. At least eleven different types of broadleaved woodland have been identified and there is a correspondingly varied ground flora. Beech woodland is dominant over much of the area nearest the River Wye, with ancient beech coppice particularly well represented. Trees associated with the beech include both sessile and pedunculate oak Quercus petraea and Quercus robur, ash Fraxinus excelsior, small leaved lime Tilia cordata and silver birch Betula pendula. Holly Ilex aquifolium and hazel Corylus avellana dominate the shrub layer while the forest floor supports abundant bramble Rubus fruticosus, ivy Hedera helix, great wood rush Luzula sylvatica and ferns egmale fern Dryopteris filix-mas and harts tongue Asplenium scolopendrium. The nationally restricted wood fescue Festuca altissima is found here forming the most extensive stands in the Wye Valley. Several types of oak woodland occur throughout the site and both sessile and pedunculate oak are widespread. Much has been coppiced and is associated with ash, silver birch, rowan Sorbus aucuparia and hazel. The ground flora includes acid loving plants such as bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, bracken Pteridium aquilinum and great wood rush. The deeper soils of the Tuffs and Mocking Hazell Wood have abundant dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta. In these woods oak fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris is found close to the southern limit of its geographical range. Oak lime woodlands dominate the southern part of the site with beech, ash and wild cherry Prunus avium contributing to the canopy. There are few shrubs principally holly but a diverse ground flora includes stands of yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and wood fescue. Several areas of alder Alnus glutinosa woodland are associated with stream sides; a particularly extensive patch of coppiced alder being present in The Tuffs. Other species hereinclude ash, oak, wild cherry and wych elm Ulmus glabra. In parts of Barbadoes Wood this woodland type grades into valley ash wych elm woodland with a rich ground flora made up of numerous ferns and both opposite leaved and alternate leaved golden saxifrages Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and C. alternifolium. Also present on the site are an area of regenerating hornbeam in the north and alder buckthorn Frangula alnus scattered throughout. Both species are very localised in the Wye Valley. A significant bryophyte flora is present with 55 species recorded so far. Breeding birds include wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix, pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes, great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major and lesser spotted woodpecker Dryobates minor. Buzzard Buteo buteo and sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus are also present.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes EN (Breeding) bird-finch fringillidae
sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus NT (Breeding) bird-hawk falconidae
buzzard Buteo buteo LC (Breeding) bird-hawk falconidae
pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca VU (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix VU (Breeding) bird-warbler phylloscopidae
great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major LC (Breeding) bird-woodpecker picidae
lesser spotted woodpecker Dryobates minor EN (Breeding) bird-woodpecker picidae
hart's-tongue fern Asplenium scolopendrium LC fern aspleniaceae
male fern Dryopteris filix-mas LC fern dryopteridaceae
oak fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris NT fern woodsiaceae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
wood fescue Festuca altissima Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium LC herb saxifragaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon LC herb lamiaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
great wood rush Luzula sylvatica LC rush juncaceae
alder buckthorn Frangula alnus LC shrub rhamnaceae
billberry Vaccinium myrtillus LC shrub ericaceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
hornbeam Carpinus betulus LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
wild cherry Prunus avium LC tree rosaceae
sessile or durmast oak Quercus petraea LC tree fagaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
rowan Sorbus aucuparia LC tree rosaceae
lime small leaved Tilia cordata LC tree malvaceae
large leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos LC tree malvaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae
ivy Hedera helix LC woody climber araliaceae

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
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus petraea, Quercus robur
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Prunus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Frangula alnus, Prunus spp.
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Frangula alnus, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp.
White-letter hairstreak
Satyrium w-album
Endangered Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Betula spp., Carpinus betulus, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Sorbus aucuparia, Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus glabra
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Vaccinium myrtillus
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Pteridium aquilinum, Sorbus aucuparia
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dusky-lemon sallow
Cirrhia gilvago
Near Threatened Ulmus glabra
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Ulmus glabra
Small heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Near Threatened Festuca spp.
Rosy marsh moth
Coenophila subrosea
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
Dingy mocha
Cyclophora pendularia
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Fagus sylvatica, 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 Betula spp., Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus 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 petraea, Quercus robur
Scarce hook-tip
Sabra harpagula
Near Threatened Tilia cordata
Scotch burnet
Zygaena exulans
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
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.

Plant communities

W12 — Beech wood

Fagus sylvatica-Mercurialis perennis woodland

Matches 15 species from the description above: Asplenium scolopendrium, Betula pendula, Carpinus betulus, Corylus avellana, Dryopteris filix-mas, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Ilex aquifolium, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Mercurialis perennis, Prunus avium, Quercus robur, Ulmus glabra

Hedera 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 15 species from the description above: Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Dryopteris filix-mas, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Ilex aquifolium, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Mercurialis perennis, Prunus avium, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Sorbus aucuparia, Ulmus glabra

Hedera 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 11 species from the description above: Betula pendula, Fagus sylvatica, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Ilex aquifolium, Luzula sylvatica, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Sorbus aucuparia, Vaccinium myrtillus

Hedera 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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 8 species from the description above: Dryopteris filix-mas, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Hedera helix, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, 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