Out Woods
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST833763 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 14.55 | 2009-12-07 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Description This is an ancient ash maple woodland on limestone, containing rare species in the ground flora. The wood lies on the limestone of the great Oolite series and is partially on a plateau and partially on a steep slope facing north and east. Though pedunculate oak Quercus robur is present, the dominant tree is ash Fraxinus excelsior. This, together with its soil type and the abundance of maple Acer campestre, leads to the site being classified as a dry, calcareous maple ash woodland. The shrub layer is dominated by hazel Corylus avellana, which occurs as old coppice regrowth. The ground flora is largely dominated by dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis on the steeper slopes and by bramble Rubus fruticosus on the plateau. The wood contains many species associated with old woodlands such as wild service tree Sorbus torminalis, spurge laurel Daphne laureola, nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium, herb paris Paris quadrifolia and wood melick Melica uniflora. However of particular significance is the population of lily of the valley Convallaria majalis and angular Solomon's seal Polygonatum odoratum, which is the largest in the county.
Species mentioned
Show the 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wood melick | Melica uniflora | NT | grass | poaceae |
| nettle leaved bellflower | Campanula trachelium | LC | herb | campanulaceae |
| lilly of the valley | Convallaria majalis | LC | herb | liliaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| herb paris | Paris quadrifolia | VU | herb | melanthiaceae |
| angular Solomon's seal | Polygonatum odoratum | VU | herb | liliaceae |
| bramble | Rubus fruticosus | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| spurge laurel | Daphne laureola | LC | shrub | thymelaeaceae |
| field maple | Acer campestre | LC | tree | aceraceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
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 |
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus robur |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Quercus 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 |
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.