Dymock Woods

Also within

Gloucestershire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Bracken scrub

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Silurian · Rock Type: Sandstone

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Area, 53.0 ha. 131.0 ac. Description Dymock Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest is situated a few miles south west of Dymock in north west Gloucestershire. The site contains the best areas of mature sessile oak Quercus petraea plantation that remain in the larger area of woodland known as Dymock Forest. These plantations, which are on an ancient woodland site, have developed a high forest structure and show much of the character of semi natural woodland. The site is important as a good example of sessile oak dominated woodland over both acidic and calcareous soils. Dymock Forest is also important for invertebrates, particularly moths and butterflies Lepidoptera. Dymock Woods lie on freely draining acidic soils derived from Old Red Sandstone. Where streams occur they cut through the Old Red Sandstone to the underlying base rich Silurian rocks. This gives rise to an acidic flora over most of the site with species characteristic of base rich soils along the streams. In the acidic areas the woodland is dominated by sessile oak with frequent silver birch Betula pendula and wild cherry Prunus avium. Wild service tree Sorbus torminalis is scattered throughout the site. The understorey is dominated by hazel Corylus avellana with hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and holly Ilex aquifolium. The woodland along the streams is dominated by sessile oak and, locally, by alder Alnus glutinosa. small leaved lime Tilia cordata and ash Fraxinus excelsior are present in these areas. The understorey here is dominated by hazel and contains calcicole lime loving species such as wild privet Ligustrum vulgare and dogwood Cornus sanguinea. The ground flora is dominated by bramble Rubus fruticosus and bracken Pteridium aquilinum throughout most of the site. Many typical woodland species such as bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa and yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon occur together with calcifuge lime hating species such as heather Calluna vulgaris, bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and common cow wheat Melampyrum pratense. The ground flora along the streams is dominated by dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis with species such as woodruff Galium odoratum and sanicle Sanicula europaea. Wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus, which carpets the woodland floor in early spring, is a particular feature of Dymock Woods. Other locally uncommon species include bitter vetch Lathyrus montanus, tutsan Hypericum androsaemum and lily of the valley Convallaria majalis. Dymock Forest is important for butterflies and moths. The nationally restricted pearl bordered fritillary Boloria euphrosyne and wood white Leptidea sinapis occur as well as the uncommon white admiral Limenitis camilla. Over 400 species of moth have been recorded including 18 nationally scarce species. These include great oak beauty Hypomecis roboraria and satin lutestring Tetheella fluctuosa, the larvae of which feed on oak and birch respectively. Other scarce moths are associated with particular woodland herbs. For example, bleached pug Eupithecia expallidata, the larvae of which feed on golden rod Solidago virgaurea and drab looper Minoa murinata whose larvae feed on wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides. A nest box scheme operates in Betty Daw’s Wood where pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca and nuthatch Sitta europaea have bred. The uncommon dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius has also been recorded.

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