Warboy's and Wistow Wood
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL296821 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 8.79 | 2022-03-11 |
| TL301818 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 35.71 | 2021-06-17 |
Habitats
Description
Area, 41.7 hectares 103 ac Description These woodlands are of ancient origin and of the ash maple community type which has a national distribution restricted to lowland England. Since 1945 such woodlands have declined in extent particularly in the more intensively farmed regions and the fraction which remain are therefore of high conservation value. In a Cambridgeshire context, these woods are additionally noted for their diversity of flora and associated fauna. The woodland structure is dominated by coppice of ash Fraxinus excelsior and field maple Acer campestre with shrub layer of hazel Corylus avellana, midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata and blackthorn Prunus spinosa. In wet areas aspen Populus tremula is frequent. The ground flora is predominantly of dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta with a variety of other plants characteristic of ancient woodland such as wood melick Melica uniflora and wood anemone Anemone nemorosa. The rides provide for additional variety and support woodland grassland plants such as meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and ragged-robin Silene flos-cuculi together with a variety of sedges. The woodlands are also noted for their invertebrate fauna.
Species mentioned
Show the 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wood melick | Melica uniflora | NT | grass | poaceae |
| wood anemone | Anemone nemorosa | LC | herb | ranunculaceae |
| meadow sweet | Filipendula ulmaria | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| bluebell | Hyacinthoides non-scripta | LC | herb | liliaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| ragged-robin | Silene flos-cuculi | LC | herb | carophyllaceae |
| midland hawthorn | Crataegus laevigata | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| blackthorn | Prunus spinosa | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| field maple | Acer campestre | LC | tree | aceraceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| aspen | Populus tremula | LC | tree | 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.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Dark bordered beauty Epione vespertaria |
Endangered | Populus tremula |
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Filipendula ulmaria, Prunus spinosa |
| Black hairstreak Satyrium pruni |
Endangered | Prunus spinosa |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Populus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta |
Vulnerable | Populus spp., Populus tremula |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Populus tremula, Prunus spinosa |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Filipendula ulmaria |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus laevigata, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus spp., Prunus spinosa |
| Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae |
Vulnerable | Prunus spinosa |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus laevigata, Prunus spinosa |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Prunus spinosa |
| No common name Zeugophora turneri |
Vulnerable | Populus tremula |
| Purple emperor Apatura iris |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Prunus spinosa |
| Minor shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Populus spp. |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Populus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Hyacinthoides non-scripta |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula, Prunus spinosa |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa |
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.