Out Wood facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Oxfordshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 19.2 hectares (47 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Out Wood is a special place in Oxfordshire, England. It's a large area of woodland, about 19.2 hectares (47 acres) (which is like 47 football fields!). It's been officially named a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its amazing plants and natural features.
It's located east of a town called Charlbury. This woodland is very important for nature and helps protect many different kinds of plants and animals.
Contents
What is Out Wood?
Out Wood is a type of forest called a semi-natural wood. This means it has grown mostly by itself over a long time. It's not a forest that was planted by people.
A Piece of History
Out Wood is a small part of a much bigger, very old forest. This ancient forest was once known as the Royal Forest of Wychwood. In the past, this was a huge hunting forest for kings and queens.
How the Trees Grow
The trees in Out Wood are managed in a special way called coppice with standards.
- Coppice means that some trees are cut down close to the ground. This makes new shoots grow from the stump. This helps keep the forest healthy and provides wood.
- Standards are taller, older trees that are left to grow big. In Out Wood, these tall trees are mostly oaks. Some of these oaks are very old, between 30 and 150 years old!
Amazing Plants of Out Wood
Out Wood is famous for its beautiful and rare plants. The paths and open areas in the wood are called rides. These rides have many different types of plants growing there.
Special Flowers
You can find some really interesting flowers in Out Wood:
- Meadow saffron is a lovely purple flower that looks a bit like a crocus. It blooms in the autumn.
- Broad-leaved helleborine is a type of orchid. It has green or purple flowers and grows in shady places.
- Greater butterfly orchid is another beautiful orchid. It has white, butterfly-like flowers that smell sweet, especially at night.
These special plants show how important Out Wood is for protecting nature.
