Ancient Woodland Indicators in Hertfordshire

Sherrardspark Wood, Welwyn Garden Cith

Ancient woodlands are defined as places which have been continuously wooded since 1600. They may have been cut down many times but the roots and soil have remained intact, preserving all the plants, fungi and soil flora/fauna.

There is a long list of species which can indicate a woodland may be ancient.

These tend to be poor colonisers, which prioritise surviving under shade over colonising new sites. They tend to spread vegetatively and their seeds are heavy and drop close to the plant.

Even a woodland path can be enough to stop them spreading and once lost they are unlikely ever to recolonise.

So their presence is a real indicator of antiquity.

Though those which qualify do differ between counties!

Here are a few from Herts.

Sherrardspark Woods

Wood Melick Melica uniflora

Abundant along rectory road and some parts of Sherrardspark Wood in WGC. A beautiful grass. Fun Fact it's called uniflora cos each spikelet contains but one flower.

ALTHOUGH if you look closely they used to have two, with one fertile and one infertile lemma!

Yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon