Dinmore Hill Woods
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO501508 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 5.6 | 2024-11-05 |
| SO505508 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 25.78 | 2024-11-05 |
| SO506518 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 21.84 | 2024-11-05 |
| SO512516 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 99.25 | 2024-11-05 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Sandstone
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| buzzard | Breeding |
Description
Description An extensive area of mixed native broadleaved woodlands overlying rocks of the Old Red Sandstone. It forms one of the largest continuous blocks of deciduous woodland in this part of the county. The soils which range from acid to alkaline and front wet to dry gives rise to a diverse woodland structure. Most of the upper plateau is dominated by sessile oak Quercus petraea woodland. In some areas this is associated with field maple Acer campestre and in others with ash Fraxinus excelsior. Other species include hazel Corylus avellana and the locally rare wild service tree Sorbus torminalis. In the woodland on the slopes, ash tends to become more dominant, often in association with birch Betula pendula on the drier areas and alder Alnus glutinosa in the wetter areas. In the south eastern part of the site is an extensive area of wild cherry Prunus avium and ash with a hawthorn Crataegus monogynand hazel understorey. The variety of soils give rise to a similarly diverse ground flora which includes bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, great butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha and common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, stinking iris Iris foetidissima and spurge laurel Daphne laureola. The woods have a rich fauna which includes fallow deer Dama dama. They provide an excellent habitat for birds that breed in woodland such as buzzard Buteo buteo, great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major and tree creeper Certhia familiaris.
Species mentioned
Show the 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| treecreeper | Certhia familiaris | LC (Breeding) | bird-creeper | certhiidae |
| buzzard | Buteo buteo | LC (Breeding) | bird-hawk | falconidae |
| great spotted woodpecker | Dendrocopos major | LC (Breeding) | bird-woodpecker | picidae |
| fallow deer | Dama dama | NE | deer | cervidae |
| spotted orchids | Dactylorhiza fuchsii | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| bluebell | Hyacinthoides non-scripta | LC | herb | liliaceae |
| stinking iris | Iris foetidissima | LC | herb | iridaceae |
| greater butterfly orchid | Platanthera chlorantha | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| spurge laurel | Daphne laureola | LC | shrub | thymelaeaceae |
| field maple | Acer campestre | LC | tree | aceraceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| birch | Betula pendula | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| wild cherry | Prunus avium | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | LC | tree | fagaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus petraea |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Prunus spp. |
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Prunus spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp. |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus petraea |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Hyacinthoides non-scripta |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Iris foetidissima |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus petraea |
| 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.