Sharpnage Wood

Also within

Herefordshire County WYE VALLEY (England) Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Geological Period: Silurian · Rock Type: Limestone

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Area, 18.85 ha. 46.6 ac. Description The woodlands of the lower Wye Valley form one of the most important areas for woodland conservation in Britain, comparable with the Caledonian pinewoods, the oceanic oak woods of Western Britain, the New Forest and the mixed coppices of East Anglia. Semi natural woodland is abundant and virtually continuous along the gorge. The woods are a mixture of many types, some of which are very localised, e.g. the lime sessile oak stands on limestone, beech stands on both acid and alkaline soils in which lime Tilia spp., elm Ulmus spp., oak Quercus spp. and other species share dominance. Most woods are a rich mixture of stand types which are believed to be similar in composition to the original natural woods of the valley. Many rare and local species are present, including some of the rarest native tree species, e.g. large leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos, whitebeams Sorbus spp. and trees close to the edge of their European range e.g. hornbeam Carpinus betulus and beech Fagus sylvatica. Furthermore these woods sit in a matrix of unimproved grassland and other semi natural habitats which, together with the woods, make the Wye Valley one of the most diverse, rich and attractive areas in southern Britain. Sharpnage Wood lies on Silurian rocks of the Woolhope dome. Its soils are slightly calcareous and free draining. The woodland is composed of mixed coppice with standards. The canopy is dominated by ash Fraxinus excelsior, sessile oak Quercus petraea, field maple Acer campestre and occasional wych elm Ulmus glabra. The shrub layer is mainly hazel Corylus avellana but birch Betula pendula, yew Taxus baccata and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna are also present. The ground flora is very rich and includes many rare and unusual species including herb paris Paris quadrifolia, wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus, columbine Aquilegia vulgaris, birds nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis and greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha. The interest of the site is further enhanced by a small stream and pond which supports a characteristic flora.

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