Redwell Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.7087, -0.2428

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Hertfordshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1) Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (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

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana LC herb onagraceae
foxglove Digitalis purpurea LC herb plantaginaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon LC herb lamiaceae
honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum LC herb caprifoliaceae
yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum LC herb primulaceae
dewberry Rubus caesius LC herb rosaceae
wood sage Teucrium scorodonia LC herb lamiaceae
wood sedge Carex sylvatica LC sedge cyperaceae
midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata LC shrub rosaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
elder Sambucus nigra LC shrub caprifoliaceae
gelder rose Viburnum opulus LC shrub caprifoliaceae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
hornbeam Carpinus betulus LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
aspen Populus tremula LC tree salicaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
creeping willow Salix repens NT tree shrub salicaceae

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
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

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

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

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

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

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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 1 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris

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