Oakers Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.7234, -2.2740

Also within

Dorset County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SY807915 Unfavourable Recovering 47.15 2010-09-10

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
wood warbler Breeding

Description

Oakers Wood SSSI Description Oakers Wood lies on a narrow area of Reading Beds and London Clay between the Frome and Piddle Valleys. It is predominantly acid oak woodland but contains hazel coppice and stands of birch and ash. Although only a small part has a continuous history of woodland cover, the flora of Oakers Wood has many elements typical of ancient woodland including some uncommon species. It also has a rich fauna. The Oak Quercus robur woodland is most acid in the north where it is mixed with Birch Betula and has a low understorey of holly Ilex aquifolium. The banks support fine old specimens of oak and holly and mosses typical of acid woodland are abundant including Leucobryum glaucum, Mnium hornum, Polytrichum formosum, Dicranum scoparium and the local D. majus. Elsewhere bramble Rubus fruticosus and hazel Corylus avellana are the most important scrub species and the latter forms a dense area of coppice in the centre of the wood. Other characteristic species of the shrub layer are guelder rose Viburnum opulus and red currant Ribes sylvestris. The ground flora is varied. bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, barren strawberry Potentilla sterilis, pignut Conopodium majus and wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella are locally abundant. Wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides, tutsan Hypericum androsaemum, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon, early purple orchid Orchis mascula and the uncommon narrow-lipped helleborine Epipactis leptochyla are other noteworthy elements and this site is especially important for the rare narrow-leaved lungwort, Pulmonaria longifolia which favours the more open areas. The lichen flora of Oakers Wood is of particular interest. Over 100 species have already been identified including several which are restricted in distribution. A group of species confined to smooth bark is especially well represented. Known as the Graphidetum scriptae, this group includes genera such as Graphis, Phaeographis, Arthonia and Opegrapha. On unshaded oak bark the community Parmelion perlatae occurs in which Parmelia perlata and P. caperata are the most abundant species. Also on acid bark in more open sites the Usneion community is well developed with an abundance of Usnea subfloridana, U. ceratina and Usnea rubicunda. Oakers Wood is the only locality in England for the rare Arthonia zwackii var zwackii. Open areas in close proximity to the woodland are especially favourable to butterflies and there are strong populations of white admiral Limenitis camilla, silver washed fritillary Argynnis paphia, pearl bordered fritillary A. euphrosyne and small pearl bordered fritillary Boloria selene. Wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix, an uncommon breeding bird in Dorset, nests here.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites
Latin name
search with Google
IUCN / Red List Type Family
wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix VU (Breeding) bird-warbler phylloscopidae
silver-washed fritillary Argynnis paphia LC butterfly nymphalidae
small pearl-bordered Boloria selene VU butterfly nymphalidae
white admiral Limenitis camilla VU butterfly nymphalidae
pignut Conopodium majus LC herb apiaceae
wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides LC herb euphorbiaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
tutsan Hypericum androsaemum LC herb hypericaceae
yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon LC herb lamiaceae
early purple orchid Orchis mascula LC herb orchidaceae
wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella LC herb oxalidaceae
barren strawberry Potentilla sterilis LC herb rosaceae
narrow-leaved lungwort Pulmonaria longifolia NT herb boraginaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
no common name Arthonia zwackii var zwackii. Not listed in GB list lichen no common name
no common name Parmelia perlata Not listed in GB list lichen no common name
no common name Parmelion perlatae Not listed in GB list lichen no common name
red beard lichen Usnea rubicunda LC lichen no common name
beard lichen Usnea subfloridana LC lichen no common name
broom fork moss Dicranum scoparium LC moss dicranales
large white moss Leucobryum glaucum LC moss dicranales
swan necked thyme moss Mnium hornum LC moss bryales
bank haircap Polytrichum formosum LC moss polytrichales
red currant Ribes sylvestris Not listed in GB list shrub grossulariaceae
gelder rose Viburnum opulus LC shrub caprifoliaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
common oak Quercus robur 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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Quercus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Quercus spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Hypericum spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Quercus spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Potentilla sterilis, Rubus fruticosus
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Corylus avellana, Quercus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened 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

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 5 species from the description above: Corylus avellana, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Ilex aquifolium, Potentilla sterilis, Quercus robur

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

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Dicranum scoparium, Mnium hornum, Oxalis acetosella

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Corylus avellana, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella

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