Peckforton Woods
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJ532576 | — | Favourable | 57.15 | 2010-05-14 |
| SJ534577 | — | Favourable | 57.15 | 2010-05-14 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Triassic · Rock Type: Sandstone
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| pied flycatcher | Breeding |
| redstart | Breeding |
| wood warbler | Breeding |
Description
Area, 54.33 hectares 134.25 ac Description Peckforton Woods lies on the scarp and dip slopes of the Triassic sandstone ridge in mid Cheshire, 20 kms SE of Chester. This site has been selected as the largest known tract of sessile oak Quercus petraea woodland in Cheshire. The ground flora is characteristic of acidic, sandy soils. Woodland of this type is rare in Cheshire. On the west and north facing scarp slopes of Peckforton Hill sessile oak is dominant over a sparce shrub layer which includes rowan Sorbus aucuparia and holly Ilex aquifolium. The ground layer is locally dominated by bracken Pteridium aquilinum but species such as bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, heather Calluna vulgaris, common cow wheat Melampyrum pratense and climbing corydalis Corydalis claviculata are widespread. Along the ridge top, Scot's pine Pinus sylvestris, yew Taxus baccata, beech Fagus sylvatica and silver birch Betula pendula also occur. The woodland supports locally significant breeding bird populations including pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix and redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pied flycatcher | Ficedula hypoleuca | VU (Breeding) | bird-robin | muscicapidae |
| redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | LC (Breeding) | bird-robin | muscicapidae |
| wood warbler | Phylloscopus sibilatrix | VU (Breeding) | bird-warbler | phylloscopidae |
| bracken | Pteridium aquilinum | LC | fern | dennstaedtiaceae |
| corydalis | Corydalis claviculata | Not listed in GB list | herb | fumariaceae |
| common cowwheat | Melampyrum pratense | VU | herb | orobanchaceae |
| billberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | LC | shrub | ericaceae |
| bell heather or ling | Calluna vulgaris | NT | shrub dwarf | ericaceae |
| birch | Betula pendula | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| beech | Fagus sylvatica | LC | tree | fabiaceae |
| holly | Ilex aquifolium | LC | tree | aquifoliaceae |
| Scot's pine | Pinus sylvestris | LC | tree | pinaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| rowan | Sorbus aucuparia | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| yew | Taxus baccata | LC | tree | taxaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Speckled footman Coscinia cribraria |
Critically Endangered | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus petraea |
| Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima |
Endangered | Calluna vulgaris |
| Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia |
Endangered | Melampyrum pratense |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Betula spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Pinus spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Sorbus aucuparia, Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus spp. |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus petraea |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris, Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Pinus sylvestris, Pteridium aquilinum, Sorbus aucuparia |
| Rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Pine-tree lappet Dendrolimus pini |
Near Threatened | Pinus sylvestris |
| Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Betula pendula |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Calluna vulgaris |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Weaver's wave Idaea contiguaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus petraea |
| Scotch burnet Zygaena exulans |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| 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
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Matches 2 species from the description above: Fagus sylvatica, Pteridium aquilinum
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