Surveys

service tree leaf logo
SpeciesCommon name
Acer campestre Field maple
Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore
Alnus glutinosa Alder
Betula pendula Siver birch
Castanea sativa Sweet chestnut
Cornus sanguinea Dogwood
Corylus avellana Hazel
Cratageus monogyna Hawthorn
Euonymus europeaus Spindle
Fraxinus excelsior Ash
Hedera helix Ivy
Ilex aquifolium Holly
Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle
Malus sylvestris Wilding or Crab apple
Populus tremula Aspen
Prunus avium Wild Cherry or Gean
Quercus petraea Sessile Oak
Quercus robor Pedunculate Oak
Rhododendron ponticum Rhododendron
Ribes sylvatica Flowering currant
Rosa arvensis Field Rose
Salix caprea Goat Willow
Salix fragilis Crack Willow
Salix cinerea Grey Willow
Sambucus nigra Elder
Sorbu torminalis Service tree or chequer tree
Taxus baccata Yew
Tilia cordata Small leaved lime
Ulmus glabra Wych Elm
Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose

Click a row to search Wikipedia for an entry on the species.

A much studied wood...

Down the years, Ast Wood has had official and unoffical surveys made of many things that live there, and had various studies and reports written about it. There have been ecological and economic surveys; gloomy post-war Forestry Commission assessments; maps of how large tracts of the wood could be obliterated and smoothed and shaped into grass golf course fairways; a late twentieth century overview of the present and future importance of the wood as it is, by a distinguished academic and author on ancient woodland; a twenty-first century 'rapid site identification' survey by a Herefordshire Council archaeologist. There is also a description of the wood on pages 181-3 of The Wild Woods by Peter Marren (David and Charles/NCC 1992).

collage of two moths Black Arches, Lymantria monacha; Riband Wave, Idaea aversata; birds nest fungi

June 1990 overview of Ast Wood, by Charles Watkins:

Ast Wood is one of the most important surviving areas of ancient semi-natural woodland in eastern Herefordshire. It is about 45 acres in size. Until the early seventies it was bigger, but 20 acres or so of the south western section of the wood were cleared and converted to agricultural land at that time. Most of the remaining woodland is surrounded by a distinct wood bank. This is of particular archaeological interest as many ancient woodlands in Herefordshire do not have distinct wood banks.

The wood is a remarkably attractive and diverse ancient woodland. There are many interesting trees including a very large number of wild service trees. This species of tree is one of the best indicators of ancient woodland. There are also some very large small leaved limes; huge old ash coppice stools; large alder stools along the brooks which rise in the wood; and also oak, yew, aspen, chestnut and cherry.

There is also a very good ground flora with expanses of bluebells and wild daffodils, wood anemone, dog's mercury and wood sorrel. There is a large population of herb paris, a key ancient woodland indicator species. Woodpeckers, both green and spotted are frequently heard and there is an excellent range of characteristic woodland birds such as tree-creepers, chiff-chaff and so forth.

Woodland management records on the nineteenth century show that the wood was regularly coppiced at from twelve to fourteen years' growth. At this time the wood was part of the Eastnor Estate and there is a fine collection of records relating to coppicing and woodland management. The poles were used as hop poles in the local hop yards.

The characteristics of the woodland flora, togther with the setting of the wood and its topography are strong evidence that Ast Wood is primary ancient woodland. Every effort should be made to protect it.

© Charles Watkins, author of Woodland Management and Conservation (David and Charles/NCC 1990); now Professor of Rural Geography, Nottingham University.

 

Welcome | History | Owners | Management | Wildlife | Trees | Surveys | Gallery | Products | Contact