Edwardstone Woods

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.0536, 0.8381

Also within

Suffolk County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (5)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TL927424 Unfavourable Recovering 7.79 2009-10-20
TL929426 Unfavourable Recovering 7.69 2014-02-05
TL934430 Unfavourable Recovering 4.85 2014-02-05
TL945413 Unfavourable Recovering 4.68 2014-02-05
TL946432 Unfavourable Recovering 2.0 2009-12-17

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
cuckoo Unknown

Description

Area, 27.9 ha. 68.9 ac. Description The Edwardstone Woods SSSI are an inter related group of ancient woods containing a diversity of stand types. These form a transition from mainly ash maple hazel woods of mid Suffolk to the lime of south Suffolk. Substantial areas of hornbeam are also present. The woodland structure is predominantly coppice with standards, with the rides and woodland margins supporting a diverse ground flora typical of Suffolk boulder clay soils. Park and High Woods together form the largest woodland area in the group, at least 500 years old and regularly coppiced, at least in part, until about 70 years ago. Fine stands of small leaved lime Tilia cordata and hornbeam Carpinus betulus are present with large standards of oak Quercus robur and ash Fraxinus excelsior frequent within the canopy and occasional wild cherry Prunus avium in High Wood. Localised stands of sweet chestnut Castanea sativa and silver birch Betula pendula are also found in the wood. hazel Corylus avellana is scattered throughout the coppice layer with ash, field maple Acer campestre and wild cherry coppice present along the more base rich wood margins. Holly Ilex aquifolium is common. Shrub species present along the hedgerows in High Wood include both common and midland hawthorns Crataegus monogyna and Crataegus laevigata, honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, crab apple Malus sylvestris and spindle Euonymus europaeus. The ground flora is dominated by glades of bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta with bramble Rubus fruticosus and male fern Dryopteris filix-mas locally abundant. Stallington Wood is situated on a steep valley side leading down to the River Box. Hornbeam dominates the coppice throughout most of the wood, with large standard oak and sweet chestnut frequent within the canopy. The margins support a wider variety of understorey species including field maple, hazel, wild cherry, hawthorn, blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, alder Alnus glutinosa, willow Salix sp., small leaved limeand crab apple. bluebell again dominates the ground flora, with dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, bracken Pteridium aquilinum and male fern locally abundant. The wood is surrounded by medieval banks and ditches and is an important landscape feature. Couper’s Wood and Priory Down are small neighbouring woods. Priory Down contains an unusually wide variety of species, with wild service Sorbus torminalis and large small leaved lime stools amongst oak, ash, hornbeam, field maple, wild cherry and aspen. Shrub species include hazel, spindle, holly, crab apple and both Midland and common hawthorns. Couper’s Wood has been partly planted with poplar but this has not interfered unduly with the mixed coppice understorey. This is of oak ash hazel, with an area of almost pure hazel in the north of the wood. Standards of oak, field maple and ash are scattered in an uneven aged distribution over the wood. The ground flora in Couper’s Wood is rich and varied. Species present include primrose Primula vulgaris, self heal Prunella vulgaris, figwort Scrophularia nodosa, hedge woundwort Stachys sylvatica, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella and cuckoo pint Arum maculatum. Other areas are similar to Priory Down in being dominated by dog’s mercury or bluebell with primrose locally abundant. Wood millet Milium effusum occurs along the rides in Couper’s Wood. The western edge of Priory Down is bordered by a narrow strip of unimproved, semi-natural meadow.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
cuckoo Cuculus canorus VU (Breeding) bird-cuckoo cuculidae
male fern Dryopteris filix-mas LC fern dryopteridaceae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
wood millet Milium effusum LC grass poaceae
lords and ladies Arum maculatum LC herb araceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum LC herb caprifoliaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella LC herb oxalidaceae
primrose Primula vulgaris LC herb primulaceae
selfheal Prunella vulgaris LC herb lamiaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
common figwort Scrophularia nodosa LC herb scrophulariaceae
hedge woundwort Stachys sylvatica LC herb lamiaceae
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
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
hornbeam Carpinus betulus LC tree betulaceae
sweet chestnut Castanea sativa LC tree fagaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
crab apple Malus sylvestris LC tree rosaceae
wild cherry Prunus avium LC tree rosaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
lime small leaved Tilia cordata LC tree malvaceae

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
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, Malus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Endangered Primula vulgaris
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni
Endangered Prunus spinosa
Mouse moth
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Vulnerable Crataegus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Tilia spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer campestre, Betula spp., Carpinus betulus, Castanea sativa, Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Lonicera periclymenum, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
Vulnerable Lonicera periclymenum
White admiral
Limenitis camilla
Vulnerable Lonicera periclymenum
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., 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., Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Malus sylvestris, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Betula pendula, Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Prunus spinosa, Pteridium aquilinum
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dingy mocha
Cyclophora pendularia
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus 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., Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Betula spp., Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
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 17 species from the description above: Arum maculatum, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Dryopteris filix-mas, Euonymus europaeus, Fraxinus excelsior, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Ilex aquifolium, Lonicera periclymenum, Malus sylvestris, Mercurialis perennis, Prunus spinosa, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Stachys sylvatica

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 10 species from the description above: Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Dryopteris filix-mas, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Lonicera periclymenum, Mercurialis perennis, Oxalis acetosella, Prunus spinosa, Pteridium aquilinum, Stachys sylvatica

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 10 species from the description above: Arum maculatum, Crataegus monogyna, Dryopteris filix-mas, Fraxinus excelsior, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Lonicera periclymenum, Mercurialis perennis, Prunus spinosa, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur

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

W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub

Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 1 species from the description above: Pteridium aquilinum

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