Brent Eleigh Woods

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.0842, 0.8246

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Suffolk County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable No Change (1) Unfavourable Recovering (1) Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TL936466 — Unfavourable No Change 20.75 2013-06-30
TL939491 — Unfavourable Recovering 5.35 2010-12-21
TL947485 — Favourable 5.57 2017-11-14

Habitats

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

Description

Area, 31.9 ha. 78.9 ac. Description The Brent Eleigh group of woods contains Spragg's, Langley and Camps Woods. Each of these is an important ancient woodland of the wet ash maple and or pedunculate oak hornbeam, ash maple variant type; the main 'heavy soil coppice type' of the calcareous clay soils of Eastern England. In addition, there are some smaller areas of the wet ash lime maple and the lowland wet ash elm woodland types in Camps Wood. Spragg's Wood is an ancient woodland with some original medieval boundary banks of well formed hazel coppice with oak Quercus robur, ash Fraxinus excelsior and maple Acer campestre standards. Wild pear Pyrus pyraster, sallow Salix caprea, woodland and hedgerow hawthorns Crataegus monogyna and Crataegus laevigata are also present. The ground flora is dominated by dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, with a good population of primrose Primula vulgaris and orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii. The rides are of species rich unimproved neutral grassland with sanicle Sanicula europaea and violets Viola hirta and Viola riviniana. Langley Wood is situated on a hilltop and is an important landscape feature. It lies on the site of an ancient wood and retains some of the original woodland of hazel coppice with oak and ash standards. It appears that some of the wood has been planted with yew Taxus baccata and possibly oak. Other species include Elm Ulmus sp., birch Betula pendula, small leaved lime Tilia cordata, field maple Acer campestre, wild cherry Prunus avium and holly Ilex aquifolium. Shrub species include spindle Euonymus europaeus and blackthorn Prunus spinosa. The ground flora is dominated by bramble Rubus fruticosus with dog's mercury scattered throughout and dominating the areas of original woodland. A rich ground flora includes violets, primroses, orchids, nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium and wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella. Two ponds and a stream in the northern area of the wood create additional habitat diversity, supporting, amongst many other species, pendulous sedge Carex pendula and ferns Dryopteris filix-mas and Dryopteris dilatata. Camps Wood is a well documented and relatively undisturbed primrose wood, containing a mixture of primary and medieval woodland as evidenced both by the rich flora and giant stools together with the topography of moats and parish boundaries. Coppicing has been continued for several hundred years giving rise to some massive stools. Oak is dominant amongst the standards with ash and maple present in small numbers. The main coppice species are maple, ash, hornbeam Carpinus betulus, elm, hazel and lime. The north east corner of the wood, thought to be primary woodland, is dominated by lime. The ground flora is mostly dominated by dog's mercury, with primrose co-dominant in the northern and central and bluebell in the north east parts of the wood. Primrose / oxlip hybrids, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa and stinking iris Iris foetidissima are also present. There are two moderately sized and heavily shaded ponds in the wood.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata LC fern dryopteridaceae
male fern Dryopteris filix-mas LC fern dryopteridaceae
wood anemone Anemone nemorosa LC herb ranunculaceae
nettle leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium LC herb campanulaceae
spotted orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii LC herb orchidaceae
stinking iris Iris foetidissima LC herb iridaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella LC herb oxalidaceae
primrose Primula vulgaris LC herb primulaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
sanicle Sanicula europaea LC herb apiaceae
hairy violet Viola hirta LC herb violaceae
common dog violet Viola riviniana LC herb violaceae
pendulous sedge Carex pendula LC sedge cyperaceae
midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata LC shrub rosaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
spindle tree Euonymus europaeus LC shrub celastraceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
field maple Acer campestre LC tree aceraceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
hornbeam Carpinus betulus LC tree betulaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
wild cherry Prunus avium LC tree rosaceae
a wild pear Pyrus pyraster Not listed in GB list tree rosaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
yew Taxus baccata LC tree taxaceae
lime small leaved Tilia cordata LC tree malvaceae
goat willow Salix caprea LC tree shrub salicaceae

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
High brown fritillary
Fabriciana adippe		 Critically Endangered Viola hirta, Viola riviniana
Pearl-bordered fritillary
Boloria euphrosyne		 Endangered Viola riviniana
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta		 Endangered Quercus robur
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala		 Endangered Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Maple pug
Eupithecia inturbata		 Endangered Acer campestre
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia		 Endangered Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Salix spp.
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina		 Endangered Primula vulgaris
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens		 Endangered Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Salix spp.
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni		 Endangered Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis		 Vulnerable Crataegus spp., Salix caprea
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx		 Vulnerable Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp., Tilia spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi		 Vulnerable Betula spp., Rubus fruticosus
Scarce chocolate-tip
Clostera anachoreta		 Vulnerable Salix spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria		 Vulnerable Acer campestre, Betula spp., Carpinus betulus, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata		 Vulnerable Salix spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria		 Vulnerable Betula pendula, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Salix spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria		 Vulnerable Betula pendula, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Salix caprea, Tilia spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae		 Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus
Brown hairstreak
Thecla betulae		 Vulnerable Prunus spinosa
Early moth
Theria primaria		 Vulnerable Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi		 Vulnerable Betula spp., Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Salix spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria		 Vulnerable Betula pendula, Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola		 Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis		 Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Salix spp.
Grey chi
Antitype chi		 Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Salix caprea
Purple emperor
Apatura iris		 Near Threatened Salix caprea
Garden tiger
Arctia caja		 Near Threatened Prunus spinosa
Small pearl-bordered
Boloria selene		 Near Threatened Viola riviniana
Minor shoulder-knot
Brachylomia viminalis		 Near Threatened Salix caprea
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa		 Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa		 Near Threatened Quercus robur
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia		 Near Threatened Salix spp.
Dingy mocha
Cyclophora pendularia		 Near Threatened Salix caprea
Heart moth
Dicycla oo		 Near Threatened Quercus robur
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora		 Near Threatened Betula pendula
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria		 Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Salix spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria		 Near Threatened Betula spp., Quercus spp., Tilia spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria		 Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa		 Near Threatened Betula spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata		 Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Salix spp.
Double dart
Graphiphora augur		 Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Rosy minor
Litoligia literosa		 Near Threatened Iris foetidissima
Clay fan-foot
Paracolax tristalis		 Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Common fan-foot
Pechipogo strigilata		 Near Threatened Quercus robur
Frosted green
Polyploca ridens		 Near Threatened Quercus robur
Scarce hook-tip
Sabra harpagula		 Near Threatened Tilia cordata
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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 14 species from the description above: Anemone nemorosa, Betula pendula, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Dryopteris filix-mas, Euonymus europaeus, Fraxinus excelsior, Ilex aquifolium, Iris foetidissima, Mercurialis perennis, Prunus spinosa, Quercus robur, Taxus baccata, Viola riviniana

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 6 species from the description above: Acer campestre, Dryopteris filix-mas, Mercurialis perennis, Oxalis acetosella, Prunus spinosa, Viola riviniana

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

W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub

Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 1 species from the description above: Viola riviniana

Hedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa