Short Wood and Southwick Wood facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Northamptonshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 25.3 hectares |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Short Wood and Southwick Wood is a wonderful nature reserve located in Northamptonshire, England. It's found north-west of the town of Oundle. This special place covers a total area of 54.7 hectares, which is about the size of 100 football fields! It is looked after by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, an organization that helps protect natural areas.
One part of this reserve, called Short Wood, is extra special. It's a 25.3 hectare area that has been named a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a place that is protected by law because of its important plants, animals, or geology.
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Discovering Short Wood and Southwick Wood
These woods are a small piece of what was once a huge medieval royal hunting ground called Rockingham Forest. Imagine kings and queens hunting here many centuries ago! Today, it's a peaceful place for nature to thrive.
What Makes Short Wood Special?
Short Wood is known as an ancient semi-natural woodland. This means it's been a forest for a very long time, possibly since the year 1600! It has grown mostly on its own, without much planting by people. The main trees you'll see here are tall ash trees and strong pedunculate oak trees.
This wood is also home to some very rare and beautiful plants. Keep an eye out for:
- Wood speedwell: A delicate plant with small blue flowers.
- Bird's nest orchid: An unusual orchid that gets its name from its root system, which looks like a bird's nest.
- Greater butterfly orchid: A stunning orchid with large, white, butterfly-like flowers.
The Story of Southwick Wood
Southwick Wood has also seen some changes over the years. In the late 1960s, many of its elm trees were lost. This happened because of a plant disease called Dutch elm disease. It's a serious illness that affects elm trees and caused many to die across the country.
Even without the elms, Southwick Wood is still full of life! You can now find other types of trees growing there, such as:
- Oak trees
- Ash trees
- Field maple trees
- Hazel bushes
How to Visit the Woods
It's easy to visit Short Wood and Southwick Wood. There's a road that runs right between the two woods. This road connects the villages of Southwick and Glapthorn. You can access the reserve from this road. It's a great place to explore and enjoy nature!
