Pierce, Alcove And Piercefield Woods
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Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Rock Type: Limestone
Landscape processes: Fluvial
Description
Description The woodlands of the lower Wye Valley form one of the most important areas for woodland nature conservation in Britain, comparable with the Caledonian pinewoods, the oceanic oakwoods of western Britain, the New Forest and the mixed coppices of East Anglia. Unlike most other regions, semi-natural woodland is abundant and virtually continuous along the gorge. The woods are a mixture of many types, some of which are very localised, e.g. the lime-sessile oak stands on limestone; beech stands on both acid and alkaline soils in which lime, elm, oak and other species share dominance. Most woods are a rich mixture of stand types, which are believed to be similar in composition to the original natural woods of the valley. Many rare and local species are present, including some of the rarest native tree species (e.g. large-leaved lime, whitebeams), and trees close to the edge of their European range, e.g. hornbeam, beech. Furthermore, these woods sit in a matrix of unimproved grassland and other semi-natural habitats which, together with the woods, make the Wye Valley one of the most diverse, rich and attractive areas of southern Britain. Pierce, Alcove and Piercefield Woods is an area of mixed semi-natural woodland mostly of beech Fagus sylvatica /yew Taxus baccata /lime Tilia cordata with a relict coppice structure with some standards on steep slopes facing east. An interesting transition from acid to calcareous woodland types occur in Pierce Woods. There are a number of rare or local species of plants including large-leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos and several species of whitebeam Sorbus spp.. Hornbeam Carpinus betulus and Sorbus aria are at the end of their range here. The cliffs support the only heronry (heron) in the lower Wye Valley and the caves are an important roost for a number of bat species. Remarks: Most of the site lies within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Species mentioned
Show the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hornbeam | Carpinus betulus | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| beech | Fagus sylvatica | LC | tree | fabiaceae |
| whitebeams | Sorbus aria | CR | tree | rosaceae |
| yew | Taxus baccata | LC | tree | taxaceae |
| lime small leaved | Tilia cordata | LC | tree | malvaceae |
| large leaved lime | Tilia platyphyllos | LC | tree | malvaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Fagus sylvatica |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Fagus sylvatica, Tilia spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Carpinus betulus, Fagus sylvatica |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Tilia spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Fagus sylvatica, Tilia spp. |
| Scarce hook-tip Sabra harpagula |
Near Threatened | Tilia cordata |
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.