Weston Big Wood

Infobox SSSI


name=Weston Big Wood
aos=Avon
interest=Biological
gridref=ST455750
area=37.48 hectare
notifydate=1971

http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?
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Weston Big Wood (gbmapping|ST455750) is a 37.48 hectare woodland west of the town of Portishead, North Somerset, England. It is a nature reserve and biological Site of Special Scientific Interest, notified in 1971.

History

The wood itself dates at least from Iron Age times, with some evidence that there has been woodland here since trees began to recolonise after the last Ice Age some 10,000 years ago. Some of its internal features e.g. old stones, ditches and banks are thought to be medieval boundaries, dating from the Middle Ages and used to divide the wood into sectors.cite web|url=http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/level1/reserves/weston_big_wood.htm|title=Weston Big Wood|work=Reserves|publisher=Avon Wildlife Trust|accessdate=2008-06-04]

Adjacent to the wood on its southern side is a large quarry. The woodland sits on a ridge of Carboniferous limestone.

Flora

Slopes within the woodland are covered with Small-leaved lime trees; oak and hazel are more common on flatter hilltop areas. Rare Whitebeams are also dotted throughout the wood.

The rare plant Purple Gromwell is found at the site. [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003590.pdf English Nature citation sheet for the site] (accessed 16 July 2006)] [Myles (2000), page 168] Other flowers include; Wood Anemones, Violets and Bluebells. The presence of other plants such as Herb Paris and Yellow Archangel together with the Purple Gromwell, show that this wood is ancient.

Fauna

There is a wide coppiced open area inside the wood, created as a butterfly feature as part of the reserve management work, called "The Ride". Butterflies such as the Orange Tip, Speckled Wood and Purple Hairstreak can be seen in the area in summer.

The birds commonly seen, include Woodpecker, Nuthatch, and Tawny Owl. Bats also roost in the trees, and the presence of many setts indicates a large badger population.

Access and management

The main access point is from a minor road which leads north from the Portishead to Weston in Gordano road; just past the civic amenity site is a parking area, and a footpath leads into the wood from there. A circular walk has been marked out inside the wood.

An area of 38 hectares is managed as a nature reserve by Avon Wildlife Trust, and purchased with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Countryside Agency, and donations from members and local people.

References

Bibliography

* Myles, Sarah (2000) "The Flora of the Bristol Region" ISBN 1-874357-18-8

External links

* [http://www.forestofavon.org.uk/westonbigwood.html A page about the wood at the Forest of Avon website]
* [http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/level1/reserves/weston_big_wood.htm A page about the wood at Avon Wildlife Trust's website]