Kingston Wood and Outliers

Also within

Cambridgeshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Description Kingston Wood and Outliers is an example of the ash maple ancient woodland type which is characteristic of the chalky Boulder Clay of eastern England. It is one of the largest and most intact medieval coppice woodlands in the county and as such the trees and associated plant and animal communities probably have their origins as far back as the original wild wood. The distribution of trees and other plants, therefore, largely represent the natural response of these species to natural environmental conditions. Additionally, the scientific value of the woods is enhanced by the existence of plant records dating back over 300 years. The woodlands are predominantly of coppiced ash Fraxinus excelsior and field maple Acer campestre over small coppice of hazel Corylus avellana. Standard oaks Quercus robur are also present. The shrub layer includes species such as blackthorn Prunus spinosa, wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana, spindle Euonymus europaeus and dogwood Cornus sanguinea. The ground flora is typically of the dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta type. Other herbs include the nationally restricted oxlip Primula elatior, nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium and the early purple orchid Orchis mascula. Additional diversity is provided by the network of rides with herbs such as wild angelica Angelica sylvestris, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and wood sedge Carex sylvatica and by the adjacent stream on the northern boundary.

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.

Plant communities