Anston Stones Wood

Also within

South Yorkshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Description Anston Stones Wood is situated 67 kilometres north west of Worksop in the Anston Brook valley and lies between 60 and 110 metres above sea level. The site is underlain by Lower Magnesian Limestone which outcrops as natural crags on the valley slopes and within the railway cutting. Anston Stones Wood contains the second best example of limestone woodland in South Yorkshire. It is ranked second to Kings Wood which contains a greater variety of woodland stand types. The lower valley slopes support ash Fraxinus excelsior, wych elm Ulmus glabra woodland. Both native species of lime Tilia cordata and Tilia platyphyllos, yew Taxus baccata, field maple Acer campestre and rowan Sorbus aucuparia are commonly associated with this stand type. Dogwood Cornus sanguinea, hazel Corylus avellana, holly Ilex aquifolium, guelder rose Viburnum opulus and elder Sambucus nigra are common in the understorey with less frequently buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica, spindle Euonymus europaeus and wild privet Ligustrum vulgare. The field layer which is largely dominated by dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana and ivy Hedera helix contains several uncommon plants such as early dog violet Viola reichenbachiana, toothwort Lathraea squamaria, wood barley Hordelymus europaeus, fingered sedge Carex digitata and mountain melick Melica nutans. These species are generally confined to ancient woodland and have a very limited distribution in South Yorkshire. The upper valley slopes and plateau are characterised by oak Quercus spp., ash and lime, woodland which also contains substantial numbers of birch Betula spp. Alder woodland features along the streamside and contains the uncommon pendulous sedge Carex pendula. The remaining areas of woodland consist of beech Fagus sylvatica plantation and in places sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. Within the site is an area of ungrazed species rich limestone grassland dominated by upright brome Bromus erectus and tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum but with species such as quaking grass Briza media, cowslip Primula veris, yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata and yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor being frequent.

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.