Feckenham Forest

Also within

Worcestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Bracken scrub, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Glacial

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Description Feckenham Forest is situated between Bromsgrove and Kidderminster in north east Worcestershire and contains the largest remnants of the Royal Hunting Forest of Feckenham which covered this part of Worcestershire in the Middle Ages. The site is considered nationally important as an example of oak dominated ancient woodland over predominantly acidic soils in which both native oak species are present. In addition the site includes a number of small unimproved meadows. The site has a diverse breeding bird community and is also of importance for invertebrates. The woods lie on poorly drained, acidic loamy clay soils developed from the Keuper Marl. The higher ground is capped by glacial drift composed of freely draining sands and gravels on which light, strongly acidic soils have developed. In general sessile oak Quercus petraeais the dominant species on the strongly acidic soils and pedunculate oak Quercus robur on the loamy clays although the two species also occur together in mixed oak stands. Where sessile oak is dominant, it is associated with downy birch Betula pubescens and rowan Sorbus aucuparia. The shrub layer is generally sparse with hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna being the main understorey species. The ground flora is dominated by bracken Pteridium aquilinum together with species tolerant of strongly acidic conditions such as bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, common cow wheat Melampyrum pratense and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta. Downy birch and rowan are also the main associated species where pedunculate oak is dominant. In these areas the shrub layer is denser and is more diverse. The main understorey species is again hazel but also includes other species such as holly Ilex aquifolium, midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata and wild privet Ligustrum vulgare. The ground flora is also richer, being dominated by bramble Rubus fruticosus together with typical woodland species such as yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon, bugle Ajuga reptans and wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella. Alder Alnus glutinosa is the dominant tree along streams and in damper depressions. The ground flora in these areas contains a number of species not found elsewhere on the site such as opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and thin spiked wood sedge Carex strigosa. Several less common tree and shrub species are present in small numbers. In Coalpit Coppice hornbeam Carpinus betulus occurs along the stream. A few trees of the nationally restricted large leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos are present in Pepper Wood. Trees of small leaved lime Tilia cordata and wild service tree Sorbus torminalis are scattered throughout the site. A number of uncommon herb species also occur such as violet helleborine Epipactis purpurata, heath cudweed Omalotheca sylvatica, herb paris Paris quadrifolia and lily of the valley Convallaria majalis. The small unimproved meadows in the site support a crested dog’s tail – common knapweed Cynosurus cristatus – Centaurea nigra type of plant community. Several grass species occur with no single species dominant. Grasses include crested dog’s tail, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, red fescue Festuca rubra and common bent Agrostis capillaris. These meadows have a rich herb flora including many typical meadow species such as common knapweed, pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus and meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris. The meadows also include a number of species which are local in Worcestershire such as dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria, saw wort Serratula tinctoriand adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum. The site is also of importance for invertebrates. Many uncommon species occur from a variety of groups. The nationally rare terrestrial caddis fly Enoicyla pusilla occurs throughout the site and two nationally rare crane flies Nephrotoma lunulicornis and N. aculeata have also been recorded. Several nationally restricted moths occur which are associated with the woodland flora. Species include the great oak beauty Hypomecis roboraria, the larvae of which feed on oak and beautiful snout Hypena crassalis, the larvae of which feed on bilberry. The site is also of interest for beetles with several scarce woodland species occurring including Apoderus coryli and Bytiscus populi. The site supports a diverse breeding bird community. This includes species that are resident all year round such as woodcock Scolopax rusticola, tawny owl Strix aluco and lesser spotted woodpecker Dryobates minor as well as summer visitors such as redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus, grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia and tree pipit Anthus trivialis.

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