Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

Pedunculate oak is the dominant canopy tree, with frequent coppiced hornbeam. Some ash and field maple trees also occur. Notably, there are two wild service-trees (uncommon in London) in the Woodland Walk. There is a well-developed shrub layer including hawthorn, Midland hawthorn, crab apple, wild cherry, hazel and blackthorn. The ground flora includes lords-and-ladies, garlic mustard, lesser celandine, herb-robert, hedgerow crane's-bill and an abundance of cow parsley. Native bluebell, Spanish bluebell and their hybrids also occur. Further species include remote sedge, wood millet, wood melick, wood meadow-grass and wood anemone. Their presence indicates the woodland's likely ancient origins.West of Downderry Road the Woodland Walk is far narrower and plant life is less diverse. Pedunculate oak is the abundant canopy tree with lesser numbers of ash. Elm, elder, hawthorn, bramble and abundant snowberry comprise the majority of the shrub layer. East of Moorside Road the trees continue with scattered pedunculate oaks over amenity grassland. These are joined by a broken line of hawthorns along Woodbank Road - perhaps the remains of an old hedge.The site supports a range of birds including many of those common in parks and gardens. Sometimes these are joined by less familiar species including treecreeper, long-tailed tit and willow warbler. A number of rare insects have also been recorded, including several that are nationally scarce, such as the brown tree ant, the hawthorn jewel beetle, the oak pinhole borer (a species of weevil) and a leaf beetle Chrysolina oricalcea.

Facilities

Waymarked walking route; public art. The Green Chain Walk and Capital Ring follow the length of the site.