Kingsbury Wood
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP233975 | — | Favourable | 60.11 | 2010-05-18 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Limestone
Landscape processes: Glacial
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| kestrel | Breeding |
| kestrel | Wintering |
| lesser whitethroat | Breeding |
| lesser whitethroat | Roosting |
| whitethroat | Breeding |
| whitethroat | Roosting |
| woodcock | Breeding |
| woodcock | Roosting |
| woodcock | Wintering |
Description
Description Kingsbury Wood lies to the south of Tamworth on clay soils over glacial drift with small areas of calcareous clays that have developed over 'Spirorbis' limestone. The limestone was once worked for marling the nearby fields and the wood contains old workings on its western side. Kingsbury Wood is an ancient woodland, which is recorded in the Domesday Book and this together with its diverse bird breeding community accounts for its interest. Two types of woodland are represented at Kingsbury. The majority of the wood is oak Quercus robur with silver birch Betula pendula over a hazel Corylus avellana understorey, with hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, dogwood Cornus sanguinea birch and the occasional crab apple Malus sylvestris. There is a smaller area dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior with oak over hazel understorey with hawthorn, dogwood, elder Sambucus nigra and maple Acer campestre. The areas of ash woodland are associated with limestone working's and the ground flora is distinctive, dominated by dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis with hedge woundwort Stachys sylvatica which is locally abundant. Under the oak birch woodland, bracken Pteridium aquilinum and bramble Rubus fruticosus are locally dominant and creeping soft grass Holcus mollis is abundant. The limestone workings have allowed a few calcicoles otherwise restricted to the south of the county to take hold. These include fairy flax Linum catharticum, common twayblade Neottia ovata and spindle, Euonymus europaeus. Forty nine species of bird breed in Kingsbury Wood including kestrel Falco tinnunculus, all three species of woodpecker Picus viridis, Dendrocopos major and Dryobates minor, treecreeper Certhia familiaris, tawny owl Strix aluco and woodcock Scolopax rusticola. Tit's are well represented with six species breeding, including willow tit Poecile montanus. Six, species of warblers also breed regularly, including lesser whitethroat Sylvia curruca. In winter Kingsbury Wood is used as a roost for finches, thrushes and starling Sturnus vulgaris.
Species mentioned
Show the 29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| willow tit | Parus montanus | Not listed in GB list | bird | paridae |
| treecreeper | Certhia familiaris | LC (Breeding) | bird-creeper | certhiidae |
| kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | VU (Breeding) | bird-hawk | falconidae |
| tawny owl | Strix aluco | NT (Breeding) | bird-owl | strigidae |
| starling | Sturnus vulgaris | LC (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) | bird-starling | sturnidae |
| willow tit | Poecile montanus | EN (Breeding) | bird-tit | paridae |
| whitethroat | Sylvia communis | Not listed in GB list | bird-warbler | sylviidae |
| lesser whitethroat | Sylvia curruca | Not listed in GB list | bird-warbler | sylviidae |
| woodcock | Scolopax rusticola | LC (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) | bird-woodcock | scolopacidae |
| great spotted woodpecker | Dendrocopos major | LC (Breeding) | bird-woodpecker | picidae |
| lesser spotted woodpecker | Dryobates minor | EN (Breeding) | bird-woodpecker | picidae |
| green woodpecker | Picus viridis | LC (Breeding) | bird-woodpecker | picidae |
| bracken | Pteridium aquilinum | LC | fern | dennstaedtiaceae |
| creeping soft grass | Holcus mollis | LC | grass | poaceae |
| fairy flax | Linum catharticum | LC | herb | linaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| common twayblade | Neottia ovata | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| bramble | Rubus fruticosus | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| hedge woundwort | Stachys sylvatica | LC | herb | lamiaceae |
| dogwood | Cornus sanguinea | LC | shrub | cornaceae |
| hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| spindle tree | Euonymus europaeus | LC | shrub | celastraceae |
| elder | Sambucus nigra | LC | shrub | caprifoliaceae |
| 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 |
| crab apple | Malus sylvestris | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria |
Endangered | Linum catharticum |
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus robur |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp. |
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna, Malus spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Malus sylvestris, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus robur |
| 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 |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Pteridium aquilinum |
| 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 |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Betula pendula |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus 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 |
| White-spotted pug Eupithecia tripunctaria |
Near Threatened | Sambucus nigra |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Crataegus spp., 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.
Plant communities
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Matches 13 species from the description above: Betula pendula, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Euonymus europaeus, Fraxinus excelsior, Holcus mollis, Malus sylvestris, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Sambucus nigra, Stachys sylvatica
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Matches 7 species from the description above: Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Holcus mollis, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Sambucus nigra
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 6 species from the description above: Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Holcus mollis, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Stachys sylvatica
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas
W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub
Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 2 species from the description above: Holcus mollis, Pteridium aquilinum
Show 40 indicator speciesHedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum