Monk Wood

Also within

Northumberland County North Pennines Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Description

Description Monk Wood occupies a steep, west facing slope above the River West Allen and incorporates a large area of ancient sessile oak Quercus petraea with a dense canopy. Most of the trees have grown up from singled coppice and ring boring measurements have indicated some trees to be at least 300 years old. Holly Ilex aquifolium, birch Betula spp. and rowan Sorbus aucuparia are scattered throughout the woodland. The presence of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, ling Calluna vulgaris and wood rush Luzula sylvatica in the herb layer indicates the acid nature of the soil. Common cow wheat Melampyrum pratense, honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum and wood sage Teucrium scorodonia are frequent in places. A large part of the woodland is invaded by rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum which shades out other species and needs to be controlled to maintain the biological interest of the site. Wych elm Ulmus glabra, ash Fraxinus excelsior and hazel Corylus avellana coppice occur near the river and here wild garlic Allium ursinum and dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis are common in the ground flora. A plantation of mature beech Fagus sylvatica is present in the north of the site and exotic conifers, including Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii and Wellingtonia Sequoiadendron giganteum were planted in some areas of the woodland during the nineteenth century. The luxurian flora of epiphytic lichens includes one of the few occurrences of lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria in north east England, whilst Thelotrema lepadinum, Pachyphiale cornea and other species characteristic of old woodland sites are also found. Script lichens Graphis spp. grow widely on beech and the crustose lichen Parmeliopsis hyperopta occurs on a few trees. The rare wood fescue Festuca altissima grows in the woodland and the locally uncommon vetch Vicia sylvatica and bird’s nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis are also present. Other Information During the 1984 revision the boundary of this site has been amended both by extension Hitch Haugh and deletion. * Under Section 23 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.

Species mentioned

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.

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