Old Sulehay Forest

Also within

Northamptonshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Bracken scrub, Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry

Description

Area, 29.9 hectares 73.9 ac Description One of an important group of ancient woodlands on calcareous strata in the north eastern part of Rockingham Forest. Such woods have been significantly reduced by quarrying and re afforestation over the last 40 years. The varied soil conditions give rise to several coppice types, notably the nationally restricted acid birch ash lime and acid pedunculate oak lime stand types. A diverse ground flora includes a number of species of rare occurrence in Northamptonshire. The canopy is almost entirely semi natural and typically consists of overstood coppice and standards, with patches of younger self grown trees. On heavy, poorly drained clay field maple Acer campestre, hazel Corylus avellana and midland hawthorn Crataegus lsevigata are the main under wood species with standards of oak, ash and occasionally wych elm Ulmus glabra. Outcrops of acidic sands are associated with a mixture of birch and oak over hazel and stands of small leaved lime Tilia cordata. The composition of the shrub layer exhibits subtle changes with a difference in soil depth and drainage. A few herbs are widespread or locally abundant, e.g. dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, bracken Pteridium aquilinum, bramble Rubus fruticosus, ramsons Allium ursinum, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta. A majority are more localised and some confined to open areas. Among the less common species are, nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium, narrow buckler fern Dryopteris carthusiana, wood meadow grass Poa nemoralis and deadly nightshade Atropa belladonna. The rides and clearings add to the floristic interest of the site and provide habitat for butterflies and other insects. The wood has a long documented history and contains archaeological features. Re presentation of details approved by Council. Re typed August 1999.

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