Treswell Wood

Also within

Nottinghamshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Triassic

Description

Description The site comprises one of the best examples of an ash oak maple wood in Nottinghamshire and is representative of ancient semi natural woodland on heavy clay soils in Eastern and Central England. Biology Treswell Wood is a fine example of an ash oak maple wood developed on rather poorly drained soils derived primarily from the Triassic Keuper Marl. Traditionally managed as a coppice with standards woodland, the canopy is dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior and contains frequent oak Quercus robur, birch Betula pendula (formerly verrucosa) and gean Prunus avium. Small numbers of wild service tree Sorbus torminalis also occur. The understorey contains abundant hazel Corylus avellana, field maple Acer campestre, dogwood Cornus sanguinea, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata, crab apple Malus sylvestris, elder Sambucus nigra and, locally, aspen Populus tremula and sloe Prunus spinosa. There is vigorous growth of woody climbing and rambling plants, particularly honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, rose Rosa spp. and bramble Rubus fruticosus. The ground vegetation is characterised by the abundance of tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa, rough meadow grass Poa trivialis, dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, cleavers Galium aparine, wood millet Milium effusum and male fern Dryopteris filix-mas and also by the number of plants indicative of ancient semi natural woodland, including sweet woodruff Asperula odorata, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, primrose Primula vulgaris, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, herb paris Paris quadrifolia, early purple orchid Orchis mascula and other woodland orchids. Additional interest is provided by the presence of woodland rides, watercourses and ponds and by the varied breeding bird community.

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.