Rabbit Wood
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO958578 | — | Favourable | 16.12 | 2012-06-19 |
Habitats
Description
Description An area of ancient primary woodland, whose recorded history goes back to the Norman period when it formed part of the Royal Forest of Feckenham, which covered much of this part of Worcestershire. The woodland lies on heavy clay soils and is largely dominated by pedunculate oak Quercus robur but includes other species such as birch Betula pendula, ash Fraxinus excelsior, aspen Populus tremula and field maple Acer campestre. The shrub layer is mainly dominated by hazel Corylus avellana, which was formerly coppiced, but also contains a wide range of other native species including hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, spindle Euonymus europaeus and privet Ligustrum vulgare. The ground flora is rich and varied and includes a number of species uncommon in this part of the West Midlands, such as herb paris Paris quadrifolia, great butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, early purple orchid Orchis mascula, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuschii and common twayblade Neottia ovata.
Species mentioned
Show the 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| common spotted orchid | Dactylorhiza fuschii | Not listed in GB list | herb | orchidaceae |
| common twayblade | Neottia ovata | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| early purple orchid | Orchis mascula | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| herb paris | Paris quadrifolia | VU | herb | melanthiaceae |
| greater butterfly orchid | Platanthera chlorantha | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| spindle tree | Euonymus europaeus | LC | shrub | celastraceae |
| wild privet | Ligustrum vulgare | LC | shrub | oleaceae |
| blackthorn | Prunus spinosa | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| field maple | Acer campestre | LC | tree | aceraceae |
| birch | Betula pendula | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| aspen | Populus tremula | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| 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 |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Dark bordered beauty Epione vespertaria |
Endangered | Populus tremula |
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Black hairstreak Satyrium pruni |
Endangered | Prunus spinosa |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Populus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp. |
| Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta |
Vulnerable | Populus spp., Populus tremula |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Populus tremula, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae |
Vulnerable | Prunus spinosa |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Populus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus robur |
| No common name Zeugophora turneri |
Vulnerable | Populus tremula |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Purple emperor Apatura iris |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Prunus spinosa |
| Minor shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Populus spp. |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Betula pendula |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Populus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Populus tremula, Prunus spinosa |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, 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 |
| White prominent Leucodonta bicoloria |
Regionally Extinct | Betula 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.