| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 | |
| Location | Cambridgeshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | TL 179 701 [1] |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 132.1 hectares [1] |
| Notification | 1983 [1] |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Brampton Wood is a 132.1-hectare (326-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Cambridgeshire. The site is west of Brampton in Cambridgeshire. [1] [2] It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. [3]
Brampton Wood has experienced a period of plantation forestry. Scots pine, Corsican pine and Norway spruce dominate about one fifth of the woodland. These plantations were introduced in the 1950s by the Forestry Commission, shortly after they took over the management of the wood on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. The plantations were planted in rows for ease of exploitation. When the MoD sold the wood in 1992 a public appeal enabled the Wildlife Trust to buy it, since then the woods and rides have been managed for wildlife conservation. [4]
Coppicing is used to encourage growth and indefinite succession young stems. This provides ideal conditions for many woodland flowers as well as birds and invertebrates. The many muntjac deer in Brampton Wood can graze the young shoots and prevent regeneration unless controls are put in place. [4] The exceeded carrying capacity of deer means security fencing surrounding the coppiced trees must be installed to ensure that the new growth is not eaten. Coppiced stumps may be covered in brushwood to deter deer from eating new growth. The medieval practice of pollarding could be introduced.
Approximately 280 species of fern, conifer, flowering plant and tree have been recorded in Brampton Wood. These include species such as dog's mercury, bluebell, primrose and violets. Also notable to the woodland are the ‘major oaks’ which stand at the entrance to the main ride. [4]
Brampton Wood hosts three examples of wild service tree. The berries of this tree — known as 'chequers' were once widely used to flavour beer in Great Britain (before hops). A limited edition beer 'Chequered Past' was produced by The Son of Sid Brewery in 2010.
Brampton Wood has thriving colonies of black hairstreaks, one of Britain’s rarest butterflies. The butterfly survives due to careful management of the rides. This involves trimming the scrub at times in the year when the population can cope. Brown argus, white admiral and purple hairstreak can also be spotted at Brampton Wood. [4]
Also currently thriving in Brampton Wood is the hazel dormouse population. The species was reintroduced in 1992 and live in low densities across the wood. They thrive on hazel, bramble and a variety of flowers. [4]
In the United Kingdom, an ancient woodland is a woodland that has existed continuously since 1600 or before in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Planting of woodland was uncommon before those dates, so a wood present in 1600 is likely to have developed naturally.
Whittlewood Forest is a former medieval hunting forest east of Silverstone in Northamptonshire in England. It is managed by the Forestry England. There are tracts of ancient woodland within it and old ditches can be found at the edges of several individual woods. The area has been the subject of extensive academic historical research. An area of 400 hectares in seven different patches has been designated a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is about half the size of an average English parish. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2.
Buff Wood is a 15.8-hectare (39-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hatley in Cambridgeshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
Gamlingay Wood is a 48.4-hectare (120-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) north of Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
Waresley and Gransden Woods is a 50-hectare (120-acre) nature reserve between Waresley and Great Gransden in Cambridgeshire, England. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. The site is a 54.2-hectare (134-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest called Waresley Wood, with slightly different boundaries.
Hardwick Wood is a 15.5-hectare (38-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest southwest of Hardwick in Cambridgeshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
Hayley Wood is a 51.7-hectare (128-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south-east of Great Gransden in Cambridgeshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 1, and it is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. It was the subject of a book by the academic and woodland expert Oliver Rackham, listed below.
Overhall Grove is a 17.4-hectare (43-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest to the east of Knapwell in Cambridgeshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade II, and it is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
Potton Wood covers an area of 85ha and is two miles east of the small town of Potton in the county of Bedfordshire, England. It is part of Ampthill Forest and is managed by Forest Enterprise and owned by the Forestry Commission.
Dymock Woods is a 53-hectare (130-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1990. The site is listed in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review' as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).
Foxley Wood is a nature reserve in Foxley, Norfolk, England, the largest ancient woodland and coppice in Norfolk. The Norfolk Wildlife Trust, which manages this reserve, bought it in 1998. It is 123 hectares in size. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2, and a National Nature Reserve.
Siccaridge Wood is a 26.6-hectare (66-acre) nature reserve in Gloucestershire. The site is listed in the ‘Stroud District’ Local Plan, adopted November 2005, Appendix 6 as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).
Brackland Rough is a 10.7-hectare (26-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Fordham in Cambridgeshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire as Fordham Woods.
Old Sulehay Forest is a 34.8-hectare (86-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of King's Cliffe in Northamptonshire. It is part of the 85-hectare (210-acre) Old Sulehay nature reserve, which is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
Ramsden Corner Plantation is a 3.2-hectare (7.9-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Northampton. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
Stoke and Bowd Lane Woods is a 36.4 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Corby in Northamptonshire. The eastern half of Stoke Wood is managed by the Woodland Trust, a triangular area of 0.7 hectares which stretches south from the middle is the Stoke Wood End Quarter, a nature reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, and the remaining western part of the wood is private property. Bowd Lane Wood is private property.
Stoke Wood End Quarter is a 0.7 hectare nature reserve west of Corby in Northamptonshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, and is part of the Stoke and Bowd Lane Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Glapthorn Cow Pasture is a 28.2-hectare (70-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north-west of Oundle in Northamptonshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
Short Wood and Southwick Wood is a 54.7-hectare (135-acre) nature reserve north-west of Oundle in Northamptonshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Short Wood is a 25.3-hectare (63-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Tiddesley Wood – the Harry Green Reserve is a nature reserve of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. It is situated about 1 mile west of Pershore and 7 miles south-east of Worcester, in Worcestershire, England. The reserve is an ancient woodland, and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
