Waresley Wood

Also within

Cambridgeshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till, Greensand

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

Area, 62.0 hectares 153.3 ac Description This woodland is 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 relatively unmodified are therefore of high nature conservation value. The diverse flora typical of such woodland is here further enriched by the underlying geology, the Lower Greensand being evident along with the more typical extensive Boulder Clay. The woodland tree and shrub communities are predominantly of the ash Fraxinus excelsior, field maple Acer campestre and hazel Corylus avellana coppice type. Other areas are dominated by invasive elm Ulmus procera, U. carpinifolius and Ulmus glabra, birch Betula pendula and aspen Populus tremula together with scattered oaks Quercus robur. Shrubs include woodland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata, privet Ligustrum vulgare, dogwood Cornus sanguinea, wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana and dog rose Rosa canina. Parts of the wood were replanted earlier this century with oak, beech and sycamore, but the ground flora of these areas still retains its value and with appropriate management the spread of indigenous tree and shrub species will be enhanced and a more natural structure obtained. The ground flora is essentially of dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta with distinct areas of primrose Primula vulgaris on the drier Greensand areas and a notable population of oxlip Primula elatior on the wetter Boulder Clay areas. The early purple orchid Orchis mascula and early and common dog violet Viola reichenbachiana and Viola riviniana are also frequent. The rides hold their own diverse flora which includes herbs such as bush vetch Vicia sepium, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, greater burnet saxifrage Pimpinella major and self heal Prunella vulgaris. A small stream flows through the site, adding further diversity.

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