Roe Wood

Also within

Nottinghamshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Triassic

Description

Description The site comprises one of the best remaining examples of semi natural broad leaved woodland in Nottinghamshire and is representative of semi natural woodland developed on clay soils in Central England. Biology Roe Wood may be considered as representing a transitional stage between the ash wych elm woods and the ash oak maple woods of the central Nottinghamshire series of woods developed on clay soils derived from the Triassic Keuper Marl. Although the woodland structure has been modified by recent management Roe Wood retains a well developed and characteristic woodland flora. The semi natural community is dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior and locally, wych elm Ulmus glabra and birch Betula pendula, while other components of the canopy include oak Quercus robur and wild service tree Sorbus torminalis. A wide variety of shrub species are present, the most abundant of which are hazel Corylus avellana, field maple Acer campestre, privet Ligustrum vulgare and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, while the herb layer is exceptionally rich including such characteristic species as primrose Primula vulgaris, sweet woodruff Asperula odorata, early purple orchid Orchis mascula, great bellflower Campanula latifolia, pendulous sedge Carex pendula and broad leaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine. The woodland rides are a notable feature of the wood being characterised by an abundance of bugle Ajuga reptans and wood pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum.

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.