Stoke Woods

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.7551, -3.5184

Also within

Devon County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (2) Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SX925960 Unfavourable Recovering 45.95 2009-04-24
SX934961 Unfavourable Recovering 32.09 2010-12-17
SX936964 Favourable 13.59 2009-05-28

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
buzzard Breeding
nightingale Breeding
wood warbler Breeding

Description

Stoke Woods SSSI Description This site contains areas of ancient semi-natural woodland and recently managed woodland, supporting a good population of breeding birds. These woods lie in the lower Exe valley, with a mainly north-westerly aspect, between 30 metres and 140 metres in altitude. Grits and shales of the Culm Measures (Carboniferous) underlie mostly gleyed soils, which are generally well drained except near streams. In places the soils have not been disturbed, so that original pedological profiles are available for study. Much of the lower part of the woodland was present in ca. 1800. Parts are dominated by oak Quercus spp. or ash Fraxinus excelsior. Wild cherry Prunus avium and wild service tree Sorbus torminalis are present, and field maple Acer campestre at the eastern end. Beech Fagus sylvatica and sycamore A. pseudoplatanus are common in the central and western parts, and alder Alnus glutinosa and willows Salix spp. grow in the wetter valleys. Much of the site is actively managed, so there is a mixture of broad-leaved high forest, coppice, saplings and scrub, conifer plantations at various stages of growth, patches of tall herbs and grasses, and bare earth and short vegetation along paths. The ground flora reflects the variety of drainage and cover. Some areas are dominated by great woodrush Luzula sylvatica, bramble Rubus fruticosus or bracken Pteridium aquilinum, and there are patches of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and common cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense. Other areas support species indicative of more mineral-rich conditions, such as enchanter’s nightshade Circaea lutetiana, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, wood avens Geum urbanum and primrose Primula vulgaris. Wetter ground by the streams carry meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and pendulous sedge Carex pendula. Over 40 species of woodland birds breed in Stoke Woods, such as buzzard Buteo buteo, tawny owl Strix aluco, all three British species of woodpecker, and nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos in some years. Several species of warbler nest in the woods, with a particularly large population of wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix. The site, being on the outskirts of Exeter, has been used for University and school education over many years.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
buzzard Buteo buteo LC (Breeding) bird-hawk falconidae
tawny owl Strix aluco NT (Breeding) bird-owl strigidae
nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos VU (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix VU (Breeding) bird-warbler phylloscopidae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana LC herb onagraceae
meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria LC herb rosaceae
herb bennet Geum urbanum LC herb rosaceae
common cowwheat Melampyrum pratense VU herb orobanchaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
primrose Primula vulgaris LC herb primulaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
great wood rush Luzula sylvatica LC rush juncaceae
pendulous sedge Carex pendula LC sedge cyperaceae
billberry Vaccinium myrtillus LC shrub ericaceae
field maple Acer campestre LC tree aceraceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
wild cherry Prunus avium LC tree rosaceae

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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Speckled footman
Coscinia cribraria
Critically Endangered Vaccinium myrtillus
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Prunus spp.
Maple pug
Eupithecia inturbata
Endangered Acer campestre
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Prunus spp.
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula vulgaris
Heath fritillary
Melitaea athalia
Endangered Melampyrum pratense
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Alnus glutinosa, Fagus sylvatica, Filipendula ulmaria, Rubus fruticosus
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus, Vaccinium myrtillus
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer campestre, Fagus sylvatica, Vaccinium myrtillus
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Filipendula ulmaria
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Prunus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Alnus glutinosa, Fraxinus excelsior
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Vaccinium myrtillus
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus, Vaccinium myrtillus
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Pteridium aquilinum
Rosy marsh moth
Coenophila subrosea
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
Dingy mocha
Cyclophora pendularia
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa, Prunus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Fagus sylvatica
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
The Silurian
Eriopygodes imbecilla
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus
Scotch burnet
Zygaena exulans
Near Threatened Vaccinium myrtillus

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 6 species from the description above: Circaea lutetiana, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Geum urbanum, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum

Hedera 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

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 5 species from the description above: Acer campestre, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum

Hedera 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

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 5 species from the description above: Circaea lutetiana, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum

Hedera 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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Filipendula ulmaria, Luzula sylvatica, Vaccinium myrtillus

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis