Dovedale Wood

Also within

Derbyshire CountyNottinghamshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous, Permian · Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area, 11.93 ha. Description The site comprises one of the best remaining ancient ash wych elm woods in Nottinghamshire and is of Regional importance. Biology The wood is developed on a series of south west facing slopes and terraces formed from strata of the Carboniferous Middle Coal Measures and is characterised by ash Fraxinus excelsior and wych elm Ulmus glabra. The soils are subject to flushing and probably receive base enrichment from strata of the Permian Lower Magnesian Limestone higher up the slope. The opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium is characteristic of these flushes. The plant community includes a large number of species characteristic of ancient woodlands including the herb paris Paris quadrifolia. Some of the plant species present are rare in the East Midlands. Additional interest is provided by the development of a small alder wood at the foot of the slope on level ground beside the stream.

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