Hangman's Wood & Deneholes
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TQ630793 | — | Favourable | 5.19 | 2017-12-06 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Description Hangman's Wood deneholes, the remains of medieval chalk mines, provide the most important underground hibernation site for bats in Essex. Three species have been recorded; Brown longeared bat Plecotus auritus, Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri and Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii. Numbers of bats recorded have increased steadily since human access to the site was limited in 1985 and a total of 62 was recorded early in 1991. Hangman's Wood itself is included within the SSSI, as an area of semi natural habitat in which bats can feed. It is a relict fragment of ancient woodland, dominated by pedunculate oak Quercus robur, ash Fraxinus excelsior and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus with occasional wild cherry Prunus avium and elm Ulmus sp. The shrub layer has largely been removed and the ground flora contains few indications of the wood's age, as a result of amenity management. Typically, the woodland floor is dominated by such widespread plants as smooth and rough meadow grass Poa pratensis and Poa trivialis, cock's foot Dactylis glomerata, cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris, common nettle Urtica dioica and bramble Rubus fruticosus agg.
Species mentioned
Show the 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daubenton's bat | Myotis daubentonii | LC | bat | vespertillonidae |
| Natterer's bat | Myotis nattereri | LC | bat | vespertillonidae |
| brown long-eared bat | Plecotus auritus | LC | bat | vespertillonidae |
| cock's foot | Dactylis glomerata | LC | grass | poaceae |
| smooth meadow grass | Poa pratensis | LC | grass | poaceae |
| rough meadow grass | Poa trivialis | LC | grass | poaceae |
| wild chervil | Anthriscus sylvestris | LC | herb | apiaceae |
| bramble | Rubus fruticosus agg. | Not listed in GB list | herb | rosaceae |
| nettle | Urtica dioica | LC | herb | urticaceae |
| sycamore | Acer pseudoplatanus | Not listed in GB list | tree | aceraceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| wild cherry | Prunus avium | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| 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.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus robur |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Prunus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Prunus spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer pseudoplatanus, Quercus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Rubus fruticosus |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus robur |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Urtica dioica |
| Large nutmeg Apamea anceps |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Urtica dioica |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Poa spp. |
| Silver barred Deltote bankiana |
Near Threatened | Poa pratensis |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Acer pseudoplatanus, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
| Swallowtail papilio Papilio machaon |
Near Threatened | Anthriscus sylvestris |
| 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.