Rough Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rough Wood
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Woodland
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Rough Wood
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| Area | Willenhall |
| Country | England, United Kingdom |
| Website | Rough Wood Wedge Rough Wood Chase |
Rough Wood is a small woodland area. You can find it in the Short Heath part of Willenhall, England. This special place is home to two local nature reserves. They are called Rough Wood and Rough Wood Chase. It is one of the few remaining ancient woodlands in the area. It has many types of trees, but mostly oak trees.
What is Rough Wood?
Rough Wood is a very old forest. It has been around for a long time. It is known as an "ancient woodland." This means it has been continuously wooded since at least the year 1600. It is a mix of different tree types. However, you will see many tall oak trees there.
Rough Wood is also a local nature reserve. This means it is a protected area. It helps to keep nature safe. Animals and plants can live and grow there. It is a great place to explore and learn about nature.
A Look Back in Time
For many years, Rough Wood was owned by private people. This changed in the 1950s. The owners gave the woodland to the Willenhall Council. They wanted to protect it. They feared it would be dug up for clay.
The council quickly put a special rule on all the trees. This rule was called a "preservation order." It meant the trees could not be cut down. This helped to keep the woodland safe.
Rough Wood was first written about in the 12th Century. Back then, it was a royal hunting wood. It was much bigger than it is today. It covered a huge area. This included most of what is now Walsall. It even stretched all the way to the forest known as Cannock Chase.
Under the Ground
Rough Wood sits on top of something called the Bentley Seam. This is a layer of coal. It is very close to the surface of the ground. In the past, people dug for coal here.
You can still see signs of this mining today. Some parts of the woodland have bumpy ground. This is because of old "bell pits." These were small, bell-shaped holes. Miners dug them to get the coal.
Surrounded by Nature and Homes
Rough Wood is surrounded by different things. To the north and west, there is a housing area. It is called the Woodlands estate. To the east, you will find the M6 motorway. This is a busy road.
To the south and east, there is a canal. It is called the Wyrley and Essington canal. This mix of nature and human activity makes Rough Wood a unique place.
