Penhow Woodlands
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Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Description These two areas of ancient semi-natural woodland are situated mainly on the steep slopes and summits of limestone hills covered with superficial deposits of a calcareous nature. The structure is a mixture of high forest, coppice and coppice-with-standards comprising a range of woodland types, several of which have a restricted distribution in Britain. The dominant canopy tree species are lime Tilia cordata, ash Fraxinus excelsior, gean Prunus avium, elm Ulmus glabra and hybrids, field maple Acer campestre and localised oak Quercus robur. The absence of birch Betula spp and oak from much of the wood and the presence of a number of fine ancient pollarded trees along a complex of parish boundaries are additional features. The ground flora is predominately calcicolous and includes a number of nationally rare and locally distributed species, for example Tintern spurge Euphorbia stricta, green hellebore Helleborus viridis, bird’s nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis and wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus. Remarks Part of this site is subject to a Tree Preservation Order. This site was formerly names Salisbury Wood
Species mentioned
Show the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| upright spurge | Euphorbia stricta | Not listed in GB list | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| green hellebore | Helleborus viridis | LC | herb | ranunculaceae |
| wild daffodil | Narcissus pseudonarcissus | LC | herb | amaryllidaceae |
| birdsnest orchid | Neottia nidus-avis | VU | herb | orchidaceae |
| field maple | Acer campestre | LC | tree | aceraceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| wild cherry | Prunus avium | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| lime small leaved | Tilia cordata | LC | tree | malvaceae |
| wych elm | Ulmus glabra | LC | tree | ulmaceae |
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. |
| Maple pug Eupithecia inturbata |
Endangered | Acer campestre |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Prunus spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Ulmus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer campestre, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus glabra |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus robur |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp., Tilia spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp., Ulmus 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 |
| 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.