Astridge Wood
51°46′35″N 2°39′26″W / 51.776478°N 2.65726°W / 51.776478; -2.65726
Astridge Wood (grid reference SO547088) is a 19.42-hectare (48.0-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, England, notified in 1985.[1][2] The site is listed in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review' as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).[3]
The site is in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[1] It is to the east (see map) of Highbury Wood National Nature Reserve (NNR).[4]
Wye Valley Woodlands/ Coetiroedd Dyffryn Gwy are recognised as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive.[5][6]
Habitat and flora
The site is part of one of the most important areas for woodland conservation in the United Kingdom, as the woods are semi-natural, and there is a continuity along the Lower Wye Gorge (which is also notified as an SSSI). The tree species comprise many different types and the area supports many rare and local species. The individual woods are part of a matrix of various habitats (semi natural and unimproved grassland).[1]
The wood is mainly on Carboniferous Limestone and has Old Red Sandstone on the lower slopes. It is considered one of the finest examples of rich calceaous mixed coppice in the area. Trees include Ash, Small-leaved Lime with scattered Alder, Sessile Oak and Field Maple. The woodland is managed coppice.[1]
The ground flora includes Dog's Mercury, Bramble and Hart's-tongue Fern. Rarities include Broad-leaved Helleborine, Spurge Laurel and some Wild Daffodil. There are various varieties of mosses and liverworts recorded.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Natural England SSSI information on the citation
- ^ Forest of Dean District Local Plan Review, adopted November 2005, Appendix D 'Nature Conservation Site Designations Within the Forest of Dean District', Sites of Special Scientific Interest Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Forest of Dean District Local Plan Review, adopted November 2005, Appendix D 'Nature Conservation Site Designations Within the Forest of Dean District', Key Wildlife Sites Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Natural England NNR citation, map, access and facilities for Highbury Wood
- ^ Information on Wye Valley Woodlands/ Coetiroedd Dyffryn Gwy Special Area of Conservation designation
- ^ "Joint Nature Conservation Committee Listing of Special Areas of Conservation". Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
SSSI Source
- Natural England SSSI information on the citation
- Natural England SSSI information on the Astridge Wood unit
External links
- Natural England (SSSI information)
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- Ashleworth Ham
- Astridge Wood
- Badgeworth
- Barnsley Warren
- Barton Bushes
- Bigsweir Woods
- Blaisdon Hall
- Bourton Down
- Box Farm Meadows
- Boxwell
- Brassey
- Brooks Head Grove
- Buckshraft Mine & Bradley Railway Tunnel
- Bull Cross, The Frith and Juniper Hill
- Bushley Muzzard, Brimpsfield
- Caerwood and Ashberry Goose House
- Chaceley Meadow
- Clarke's Pool Meadow
- Cleeve Common
- Cockleford Marsh
- Collinpark Wood
- Coombe Hill Canal
- Coombe Hill
- Cotswold Commons and Beechwoods
- Cotswold Water Park
- Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake
- Daneway Banks
- Dean Hall Coach House & Cellar
- Devil's Chapel Scowles
- Dingle Wood
- Dixton Wood
- Dymock Woods
- Edge Common
- Elmlea Meadows
- Frampton Pools
- Highbury Wood
- Hobbs Quarry
- Hornsleasow Roughs
- Hucclecote Meadows
- Innsworth Meadow
- Juniper Hill, Edgeworth
- Kempley Daffodil Meadow
- Kingscote and Horsley Woods
- Lark Wood
- Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common
- Lineover Wood
- Lower Woods
- Lower Wye Gorge
- May Hill
- Midger
- Minchinhampton Common
- Nagshead
- Old Bow and Old Ham Mines
- Old River Severn, Upper Lode
- Pennsylvania Fields, Sedbury
- Poor's Allotment
- Puckham Woods
- Range Farm Fields
- River Wye
- Rodborough Common
- Rough Bank, Miserden
- Salmonsbury Meadows
- Selsley Common
- Severn Estuary
- Severn Ham, Tewkesbury
- Shorn Cliff and Caswell Woods
- Slade Brook
- Soudley Ponds
- Speech House Oaks
- Stenders Quarry
- Stinchcombe Hill
- Strawberry Banks
- Swanpool Wood and Furnace Grove
- Swift's Hill
- Sylvan House Barn
- The Hudnalls
- The Malvern Hills
- Tudor Farm Bank
- Turvey's Piece
- Upper Severn Estuary
- Upham Meadow and Summer Leasow
- Upper Wye Gorge
- Walmore Common
- Westbury Brook Ironstone Mine
- Whelford Meadow
- Wigpool Ironstone Mine
- Wildmoorway Meadows
- Winson Meadows
- Woodchester Park
- Workman's Wood
- Wotton Hill
- Yarley Meadows
- Neighbouring areas
- Avon
- Herefordshire
- Oxfordshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire