fifth of the woodland woodland the of fifth

woodland vast the of parts Woodpecker Green who planted around one one around planted who

bluebell blooms that carpet carpet that blooms bluebell

Forestry Commission Commission Forestry Badgers

admire the conspicuous conspicuous the admire

managed by the the by managed Bluebells

woodland. Visit in spring to to spring in Visit woodland. subsequently subsequently

violets can all be found in the the in found be all can violets The land was was land The

primrose, wood sedge and and sedge wood primrose, Grafham firing range. range. firing Grafham

anemone, yellow archangel, archangel, yellow anemone, safety zone for the the for zone safety

mercury, bluebell, wood wood bluebell, mercury, site from timber merchants, primarily as a a as primarily merchants, timber from site

indicator species such as dog’s dog’s as such species indicator Agriculture, Fisheries and Food purchased the the purchased Food and Fisheries Agriculture,

Wood. Ancient woodland woodland Ancient Wood. since the 1950s. In 1956 The Ministry of of Ministry The 1956 In 1950s. the since

been recorded at Brampton Brampton at recorded been The wood has changed hands several times times several hands changed has wood The

Over 340 plant species have have species plant 340 Over

industry. tanning the in product important

bark stripped from the large oaks became an an became oaks large the from stripped bark

uses of the wood were explored. In the 1860s 1860s the In explored. were wood the of uses

hawthorn and blackthorn. and hawthorn

seasons. the

As time passed and industries changed new new changed industries and passed time As hangs above an understorey of hazel, hazel, of understorey an above hangs

supports a great array of wildlife throughout throughout wildlife of array great a supports

other woodland products could be extracted. extracted. be could products woodland other maple form the bulk of the canopy which which canopy the of bulk the form maple

and ponds this magnificent woodland woodland magnificent this ponds and

of the woodland; roads by which timber and and timber which by roads woodland; the of A mixture of oak, ash, aspen, birch and field field and birch aspen, ash, oak, of mixture A

ancient woodland, to grassy rides, streams streams rides, grassy to woodland, ancient

map indicates, these rides were the highways highways the were rides these indicates, map is acid enough to support pockets of bracken. bracken. of pockets support to enough acid is

diversity of species and habitats. From From habitats. and species of diversity

and West Ride. Likely much older than the the than older much Likely Ride. West and thrive here. Whilst in isolated patches the soil soil the patches isolated in Whilst here. thrive

Brampton Wood hosts an exceptional exceptional an hosts Wood Brampton

Main Ride, Cross Ride Ride Cross Ride, Main - rides principal three loving plants such as common spotted orchid orchid spotted common as such plants loving

With almost 3400 recorded species, species, recorded 3400 almost With

for the Earl of Sandwich in 1757, illustrates illustrates 1757, in Sandwich of Earl the for - lime soils, clay boulder - chalky by Dominated

for livestock. The first map of the wood, drawn drawn wood, the of map first The livestock. for and protected plant and animal species. species. animal and plant protected and

hay and hazel poles, and to provide pasture pasture provide to and poles, hazel and hay These habitats play host to a number of rare rare of number a to host play habitats These

been managed for resources such as timber, timber, as such resources for managed been

woodland boasts a great variety of habitats. habitats. of variety great a boasts woodland 1992. in management

For centuries the woodland has has woodland the centuries For

characterised by variable geology, the the geology, variable by characterised Trust purchased the wood and took over over took and wood the purchased Trust

Bisected by streams and grassy rides, and and rides, grassy and streams by Bisected

and conserve this magnificent site the Wildlife Wildlife the site magnificent this conserve and

livestock.

Orchid

successful appeal to save save to appeal successful woodland from wandering wandering from woodland

Spotted Spotted

But following a hugely hugely a following But

have served to protect the the protect to served have

Butterfly

Common Common

woodland was uncertain. uncertain. was woodland

earth mound, which would would which mound, earth the site in 1992. in site the Speckled Wood Wood Speckled

the future of the the of future the

marked by a ditch and large large and ditch a by marked this magnificent area, the Trust purchased purchased Trust the area, magnificent this

early1990s. At this time time this At early1990s.

boundary of the wood is is wood the of boundary Following a successful appeal to conserve conserve to appeal successful a Following

closure in the the in closure

Created in the Middle Ages, the the Ages, Middle the in Created myriad of plant, animal and fungi species. species. fungi and animal plant, of myriad

wood until the range’s range’s the until wood

Domesday Book of 1086AD. 1086AD. of Book Domesday spanning 132 hectares, the woodland hosts a a hosts woodland the hectares, 132 spanning

management of the the of management

Wood date back to the the to back date Wood . At least 900 years old and and old years 900 least At Cambridgeshire.

Defence took over over took Defence

The first records of Brampton Brampton of records first The and the second largest woodland in in woodland largest second the and

1980’s, the Ministry of of Ministry the 1980’s,

exceptional example of ancient woodland woodland ancient of example exceptional

Shortly after in the the in after Shortly

Interest (SSSI) in 1954, Brampton Wood is an an is Wood Brampton 1954, in (SSSI) Interest

Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Scientific Special of Site a as Designated

To contact us about this reserve or about how you can support us please write to: OS Sheet 153 Grid Reference TL 184 698 The Wildlife Trust, The Manor House, Leave the A14 at exit 22 (Brampton), one mile Broad Street, east of the A14/A1 junction. Take the Cambourne, Brampton exit (B1514) at the first roundabout. CB23 6DH. At the next mini-roundabout turn right into Grove Lane, then after 100m turn right again at the T-junction. Follow this road through the To join the Wildlife village, over the A1, towards Grafham village. Trust please contact The reserve is on the north side of the road 1.5 The Wildlife Trust, miles out of Brampton. The reserve entrance is The Manor House, signposted with a Wildlife Trust sign. Park in Broad Street, the small car park. Cambourne, CB23 6DH. Paths are mostly grassy and compacted earth Wood Anemone so can be muddy and occasionally flood in Tel: 01954 713500 wet weather. Please stay on the paths and keep dogs on a lead. E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.wildlifebcn.org

Your local Wildlife Trust protects the special wildlife and habitats This reserve is supported by: of , Cambridgeshire and . We are a charity dependent on voluntary contributions.

Primrose Nature Reserve Photo: Chantelle Kerr Illustrations: MikePhoto:Langman Chantelle Illustrations: Kerr

The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Registered charity no: 1000412

wildlifebcn Oct2016 In summer, the bright The wood is also home to many grassy rides provide bird species. From the robust stark contrast to the From beautiful butterflies to the and conspicuous green muted tones of the striped badger, the many and woodpecker to the woodland. Stretching for varied habitats within the enchanting nightingale nearly two miles, they woodland attract an array and the stealthy host plants more typical sparrowhawk, the wood of species from across the Hazel of open meadows, such animal kingdom. provides ample feeding as common spotted dormouse and breeding opportunities orchid , devil’s bit- In 1992, Brampton Wood for many birds to thrive. Nightingale scabious, water purslane became one of the first re-introduction site Many smaller creatures also frequently visit and both hairy and for the hazel dormouse in the country. Due to the woodland. Rotting wood piles are rife with trailing St John’s wort. its nocturnal habits and arboreal lifestyle this Devils bit scabious charismatic critter is exceptionally difficult to beetle larvae, including that of nationally rare The wood is also home see. But regular monitoring of the dormouse Longhorn beetles. Whilst ponds provide to some unusual trees; yews, wild cherries and by local volunteers informs us that the homes for frogs, toads and newts, including rare wild service trees can be found along the population has survived to this day and has the nationally rare great crested newt. Main Ride. Two magnificent wild pears, found successfully expanded into most areas of the along the western edge of the wood, are two wood. of the best specimens in Cambridgeshire. The black hairstreak, one of Britain’s rarest At Brampton, a team of staff and volunteers butterflies, has several colonies in the wood carry out works year round to encourage making Brampton Wood one of the best UK diversity of habitats and species. The rides are Over 500 species of fungi exist in the wood sites to see this attractive insect. Many other cut annually on alternate sides and regularly and autumn is the best time to find many of unusual butterflies can be spotted regularly at widened to prevent shading. This encourages them. Often boasting attractive or quirky the wood including purple and white-letter the diversity of wildflowers and insects found names, many of hairstreaks, brown argus, white along the rides. The ride edges are also being the fungi found in admirals and silver-washed fritillary. returned to a coppice cycle to improve the the wood are area for insects, birds and woodland plants. poisonous and The parts of the woodland converted to inedible. conifer plantations are being restored by Distinctive species removing conifers, encouraging the native found here include deciduous woodland trees to regenerate in plums and custard, their place . Black hairstreak false death cap, (right) White Admiral common bonnet Plums and Custard and King Alfred’s cakes. (left)

Bordering the wood’s entrance these magnificent trees are also known as ‘The Common frog Master Oaks’ and ‘The Sentinel Oaks’. Wild pear

A previous owner planted this group of cherry and wild service trees. Typically a rare tree of ancient woodland, the bark of a wild service tree has a chequered pattern - hence the chequer tree.

Cleared of conifers and cut annually, the great glade is home to a great variety of wildflowers and insects.

Dug as a convenient source of water by the woods previous owners, the ponds are now home to a great wealth of aquatic creatures.

Conifer trees have been removed in this area to restore the native trees. Wide, sunny grassy rides were created to encourage wildflowers and insects.

Two old and magnificent wild pear trees grow here along the edge of the wood and are two of the best examples in Cambridgeshire. They still fruit occasionally, although the pears are small and hard.

This is the main crossroads in the wood - at the junction of the Main and Cross Rides. From here you have an excellent view of the rides and can see the land rising north and east. A crab apple tree is nearby; one of several good examples of Britain’s only native apple tree.

In spring, this is one of several excellent places to see a wonderful display of our most Longhorn beetle popular native woodland flower.

Be part of it /wildlifebcn @wildlifebcn Visit: www.wildlifebcn.org