Lark Wood
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP104262 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 0.9 | 2012-03-19 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Description A small area of deciduous woodland representative of the coppice with standards oak woodland habitat of the north east Cotswolds. The soils on the site are derived from the Inferior Oolite of the Cotswold Jurassic limestone. The presence of large numbers of a nationally rare plant give the site additional importance. The canopy is dominated by pedunculate oak Quercus robur with occasional beech Fagus sylvatica and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. Coppiced hazel Corylus avellana and wych elm Ulmus glabra with hawthorn Crataegus monogyna forms the shrub layer which is now becoming quite open as a result of the death of most of the elm. The ground flora is composed largely of bramble Rubus fruticosus, dogs mercury Mercurialis perennis and woodruff Galium odoratum. A large population of the nationally rare mezereon Daphne mezereum is of particular interest, while other uncommon species include spurge laurel D. laureola and butchers broom Ruscus aculeatus.
Species mentioned
Show the 11 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| woodruff | Galium odoratum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| bramble | Rubus fruticosus | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| metzereon | Daphne mezereum | VU | shrub | thymelaeaceae |
| butchers-broom | Ruscus aculeatus | LC | shrub | liliaceae |
| sycamore | Acer pseudoplatanus | Not listed in GB list | tree | aceraceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| beech | Fagus sylvatica | LC | tree | fabiaceae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| 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.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus robur |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp. |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Ulmus glabra |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus robur |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| 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 |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus 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 robur |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium 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.