Puckham Woods facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Example - Angular Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum odoratum)
|
|
| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°54′02″N 1°59′10″W / 51.900593°N 1.986146°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 32.38 hectare |
| Notification | 1954 |
Puckham Woods is a special natural area in Gloucestershire, England. It's a protected place called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's important because of its unique plants and natural habitats. The site covers about 32.38 hectares, which is like 80 football fields! It was first recognized as a special place in 1954.
Where is Puckham Woods?
Puckham Woods is located in Gloucestershire, a county in England. You can find it east of Cheltenham, near a village called Whittington. This area is part of the beautiful Cotswolds region, known for its rolling hills. The Cotswolds is also an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty." This means its landscape is protected because it's so special. The land here is very old. It was formed during the Jurassic period, a time when dinosaurs lived! The ground is mostly made of a type of rock called Inferior Oolite limestone. In some parts of the northern woods, you can also find a special clay called Fuller's Earth. Puckham Woods is divided into three main parts. Two of these parts are woodlands, and the third is open grassland, like two big fields.
Amazing Plants and Habitats
Puckham Woods is famous for two main types of natural areas. One is its "unimproved limestone grassland." This means the grass hasn't been changed by farming or chemicals. The other is its "ancient semi-natural woodland." This is a very old forest that has grown mostly on its own. These types of habitats are rare today because many have been lost.
Woodland Plants
The woods are an example of an old forest. Here you can find trees like Ash, Oak, Silver Birch, Whitebeam, and Rowan. This kind of woodland is not very common in the Cotswolds, where most forests are made of Beech trees. The way the woods are managed helps keep these native trees growing strong. Underneath the taller trees, you'll find smaller trees and bushes. These include Hazel, Field Maple, Hawthorn, Guelder Rose, and Holly. The ground of this woodland is full of different flowers and plants. You might see Bluebells, Dog's Mercury, Ramsons, Yellow Archangel, and Woodruff. Some rarer plants also grow here, such as Angular Solomon's-seal, Herb Paris, Lily-of-the-valley, Wood Vetch, Greater Butterfly Orchid, and Meadow Saffron.
Grassland Plants
The open grassland area faces south or south-east. It has many types of grasses like Upright Brome, Tor-grass, Red Fescue, Meadow Oat-grass, and Quaking-grass. This grassland is also rich in other plants and flowers. You can find Common Rock-rose, Dwarf Thistle, Thyme, and Salad Burnet. Several types of beautiful orchids grow here too. These include the Pyramidal Orchid, Bee Orchid, and Green-winged Orchid. A nationally rare plant called Bastard Toadflax has also been found in this special grassland.
