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Bluebells in Entrance coppice in Thornton Wood |
The Cheshire Wildlife Trust reserves of Foxes Wood and
Thornton Wood are both units that lie within Dibbinsdale Site of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSI) and as such are inspected by Natural England to
assess their condition. The lowest point
of these woods converges at the hump backed bridge at the bottom of Thornton
Common Road, near Raby Mere.
They are designated as part of an SSSI because they are
classed as an ancient woodland and the question is do they still match this
criteria? Do they match up to the
natural communities of species that one would expect in a semi-natural
woodland? Two Officers from Natural
England, came to carry out a condition survey. I was delighted to be invited to take part in the survey to understand the
process. Pre-determined quadrats were
taken, five in Thornton Wood and four in Foxes Wood. (See map for the locations of the quadrats
and woods.)
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Location of quadrats in Thornton Wood and Foxes Wood |
Once in the centre of the 100m2 quadrat, the following measurements were recorded:
- percentage of canopy cover and species composition
- extent and species composition of under storey
- spread of age and classes of trees
- presence of over mature trees
- extent of dead wood, standing and fallen
The sapling species
composition arising is also recorded and the regeneration of Sycamore. This has to be less than 50% and Beech, Laurel
and Rhododendron have to be less than 10% of the quadrat to pass. The species
of plants on the woodland floor were also assessed with 95% of the coverage
needing to be native species to pass.
A packed lunch was enjoyed in the freshly cut Entrance
Coppice where the woodland inspectors were impressed by the dense bluebell
display and the several butterflies
fluttering in the coppice. This survey
was in mid-May when the days are getting warmer but just before the canopy
opens and shades and cools the coppice floor. Wirral Wildlife spring walks are held in the woods in late April to
catch the primrose and wood anemone in flower. However, it is too early to catch the woodland
butterflies. Sadly, none of the four
coppice areas in Thornton Wood were included in these predetermined quadrats. Luckily one clump of wood anemone was picked
up in the survey, which is one of the largest clumps in Thornton Wood,
approximately 2m diameter. The extensive
area of Variegated Yellow Archangel in the southern tip of Thornton Wood could
hardly be missed and was picked up in the survey.
Foxes Wood passed on 14 of the 16 criteria, failing due to
Ash die back affecting more than 20% of the canopy and the presence of Invasive
Non-Native Species (INNS). In Foxes Wood
the INNS are Himalayan Balsam, Pink Purslane, Yellow Archangel, Fringe Cups,
Sycamore, Beech and Scots Pine. Thornton
Wood passed on 13 of the 16 criteria, failing due to Ash dieback affecting more
than 20 % of the canopy and INNS such as Himalayan Balsam, Variegated Yellow
Archangel, Pink Purslane, Sycamore and failed a further criteria because in one
quadrat 60% of the regeneration of the trees in the quadrat were Sycamores. Very few ancient woodlands in England are in
favourable condition, largely because of INNS and Sycamore.
Although the official results for
both woods were “declining unfavourable”, the part of Foxes Wood managed by
Cheshire Wildlife Trust and local volunteer, Tom McCullough, was in good
condition and one quadrat passed all the categories. It did not even fail due
to Ash die back as there are no Ash trees in that part of Foxes Wood, this area
being dominated by oak. However, most of
Foxes Wood which is not under CWT management was in an unfavourable declining
condition. There are a few honey pots of
biodiversity in Thornton Wood, in particular the coppice areas where Primrose,
Greater Stitchwort, Barren Strawberry, Wood Anemone and Wood Sorrel occur. It is hoped that these areas are improving as
nutrients are cropped at each coppice cut.
Some of these favourable areas within the woods can be viewed on a
guided spring walk with the Wirral Countryside Volunteers on Saturday 26th April at 9.30 am. Places are limited so booking is essential via the Ticket Tailor link below:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wirralcountrysidevolunteers/1468284
Note: there are no defined paths
in the wood and it is steep in parts so stout footwear is required.
Paul Loughnane
Thornton Wood Reserves Manager and Secretary of Wirral Countryside Volunteers