Odell Great Wood facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
A historic photograph of Odell Great Wood, showing the damage after a storm in 1906
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| Area of Search | Bedfordshire |
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| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 85.7 hectares |
| Notification | 1984 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Odell Great Wood is a really old and important forest in Odell, Bedfordshire. It's so special that it's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected area because of its amazing nature. Experts from Natural England say it's one of the best examples of a certain type of woodland in Bedfordshire. People have even called it "the noblest wood in this county"!
Odell Great Wood is one of the biggest ancient woodlands in Bedfordshire. It's home to many different plants and animals. You'll find lots of ash, oak, and hazel trees here.
Contents
A Glimpse into the Past
Long, long ago, what we now call Odell Great Wood was just a small part of a much bigger forest. This huge forest stretched all the way to The Fens. It provided jobs for woodsmen who worked with the trees.
In the past, sheep used to graze in a large area nearby. This area was fenced off in 1776. Even today, sheep still graze in the fields next to the wood. Sometimes, game birds are raised in special fenced areas inside Odell Great Wood.
A map from 1765, made by Thomas Jefferys, shows that Odell Great Wood had special paths. These paths were arranged like the spokes of a wheel.
Why Odell Great Wood is Special
Natural England has officially recognized Odell Great Wood as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). They first noted its importance in 1970 and then again in 1984. They describe it as "in many respects the best example in Bedfordshire" of a wet ash-maple woodland.
Trees and Plants
The wood is mostly filled with oak and ash trees. Below these tall trees, there's a thick layer of smaller plants and shrubs. These include privet, dogwood, field maple, and hazel that has been cut back to grow new shoots.
You can find a wide variety of woodland plants here. This is because the soil types change across the wood. The northern parts of the site grow on a neutral clay soil. Other parts of the wood have more chalky soils.
Rare Species
This mix of soils helps many different plants to grow. Some of these plants are quite rare in this area. For example, you might spot herb paris or wild daffodil.
Woodland Paths
One important feature of Odell Great Wood is its many paths. These paths wind through the forest. Natural England says these paths make the wood even better for flowering plants, butterflies, and other insects.
You can visit Odell Great Wood by following a public footpath. This path starts from Odell High Street.
