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COUNTY: CAMBRIDGESHIRE
SITE NAME: CARLTON WOOD
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981
Local Planning Authorities: South Cambridgeshire
District Council
National Grid Reference: TL 654530
Ordnance Survey Sheet 1:50,000: 154
1:10,000: TL 65 SE
Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): Date of Last Revision:
Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1986
Date of Last Revision:
Area: 10.3 ha 25.5 ac
Other information: This is a new addition to the
Cambridgeshire Schedule.
Description and Reasons for Notification
Carlton Wood is ancient and semi-natural and holds one of
the finest of the few hornbeam stands in the county. In addition both the
hornbeam and ash-maple stands are of a nationally uncommon variant
containing oxlip Primula
elatior.
The woodland is predominantly former coppice-with-standards
of ash Fraxinus excelsior,
field maple Acer campestre and hazel
Corylus avellana with
pedunculate oak Quercus
robur.
Hornbeam Carpinus
betulus is locally common. Ancient coppice stools of both hornbeam and
ash are present.
There is a rich ground flora. Oxlips are locally abundant
and a good range of other typical ancient woodland species are recorded
including early-purple orchid
Orchis mascula, herb-Paris
Paris quadrifolia and wood
sorrel Oxalis acetosella.
A wide ride is present and this provides a valuable habitat
for many ‘woodland edge’ herbs and grasses and is likely to be of additional
value for invertebrates. |
