Redwell Wood
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL213026 | — | Favourable | 30.72 | 2012-10-02 |
| TL217025 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 21.85 | 2012-10-02 |
Description
Description Redwell Wood is a complex site comprising both ancient woodland of the pedunculate oak / hornbeam type and heathland, together with well developed scrub and secondary woodland. The combination of ancient woodland and heathland habitats is uncommon in the county and both types have been greatly reduced in extent locally and nationally. The woodland is structurally varied reflecting past management and including areas of high forest, coppice with standards and small areas of recent selective felling where birch scrub has developed. Part of the wood was replanted with conifers but these have largely failed and natural regeneration is proceeding. The woodland canopy is dominated by pedunculate oak Quercus robur with ash Fraxinus excelsior and occasional hornbeam Carpinus betulus, beech Fagus sylvatica and aspen Populus tremula. Mature hazel Corylus avellana is the dominant shrub in much of the wood with hornbeam coppice, elder Sambucus nigra, guelder rose Viburnum opulus, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata. Open areas with old pollarded oaks suggests past use as woodland pasture which has been succeeded by a dense growth of bracken Pteridium aquilinum. The ground flora reflects different moisture regimes created by the geology and includes bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, enchanter’s nightshade Circaea lutetiana, honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, wood sage Teucrium scorodonia, foxglove Digitalis purpurea and species indicative of the woods ancient origins such as wood sedge Carex sylvatica, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon, yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum and dewberry Rubus caesius. Relict heathland species include heather Calluna vulgaris and creeping willow Salix repens, a county rarity. Additional habitat is provided by the woodland rides.
Species mentioned
Show the 22 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 |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp. |
| Dark bordered beauty Epione vespertaria |
Endangered | Populus tremula, Salix repens |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp. |
| Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima |
Endangered | Calluna vulgaris |
| Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia |
Endangered | Digitalis purpurea, Teucrium scorodonia |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Salix spp. |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Pteridium aquilinum |
| Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta |
Vulnerable | Populus spp., Populus tremula, Salix spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Carpinus betulus, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Lonicera periclymenum, Populus tremula, Quercus spp., Salix spp. |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Salix spp. |
| White admiral Limenitis camilla |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
| True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Salix spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Populus spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus robur |
| No common name Zeugophora turneri |
Vulnerable | Populus tremula |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Salix spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Digitalis purpurea |
| Purple emperor Apatura iris |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Pteridium aquilinum |
| Minor shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Populus spp., Salix spp. |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Salix repens |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Populus spp., Quercus spp., Salix 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 | Calluna vulgaris, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Salix repens |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Populus tremula, Salix spp. |
| White-spotted pug Eupithecia tripunctaria |
Near Threatened | Sambucus nigra |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp. |
| Weaver's wave Idaea contiguaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| 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 |
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 12 species from the description above: Circaea lutetiana, Corylus avellana, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Lonicera periclymenum, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Sambucus nigra, Teucrium scorodonia
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera 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
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Matches 11 species from the description above: Circaea lutetiana, Crataegus monogyna, Digitalis purpurea, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Lonicera periclymenum, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Sambucus nigra, Teucrium scorodonia
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera 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
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 6 species from the description above: Corylus avellana, Digitalis purpurea, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Lonicera periclymenum, Pteridium aquilinum, Teucrium scorodonia
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera 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
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Matches 1 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix 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