NOTTINGHAMSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST
RESERVE TYPE: Ancient coppiced wych elm woodland.
STATUS: Owned by the Trust (donated by British Gypsum Limited in 1985). Denotified as Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) following effects of Dutch Elm Disease.
ACCESS: The reserve may be reached by public footpath from the Silver Seal mine entrance (584293) off Wysall Lane. Trust members have a further access point at Bunny Hill off the A60 Loughborough Road (579283). There is limited parking space on the wood side verge; please do not obstruct access, and park completely off the road. Visitors should keep to the rides and dogs should be kept under control.
DESCRIPTION: A large amount of documentary and field evidence confirms that Bunny Wood is of ancient origin. The wood was mentioned in the Domesday Book and was previously used as a source of timber for Saxon settlers in the area. In 1487 Henry VII and his army camped near the wood on their way to the battle of East Stoke. Field evidence includes the sinuous shape of the wood, the ancient parish boundary ditch on the northern side, certain ancient woodland indicators, such as dog's mercury, and the large number of old coppice stools.
The wood is situated on a steep north-facing slope of Liassic Clay and Rhaetic series with coppiced wych elm as the main tree species, although this has been decimated since the early 1970s by Dutch Elm Disease. There are also coppiced ash and standards of oak and field maple, with wild cherry and crab apple occurring along the southern boundary. The under storey comprises mainly suckering wych elm and bramble, with elder and hawthorn occurring in some areas.
The ground flora is characterised by abundant dog's mercury and bluebell, with other flowering plants including wood anemone, yellow archangel, moschatel and sanicle. Common twayblade also occurs in the wood. About thirty species of bird have been recorded, including great and lesser spotted woodpeckers and tawny owl. Summer visitors include spotted flycatcher, blackcap and tree pipit, with hawfinch also being listed. Of about ten species of butterfly, the site is most important for the white letter hairstreak. Other woodland fauna includes fox, grey squirrel and grass snake.
CONSERVATION AND PROBLEMS: The long-term aim is to restore the woodland to its former status, but with other native species replacing wych elm as necessary. In the short term the felling and removal of dead and diseased wych elm is being done by compartments to minimise adverse effects on ground flora. A woodland road and associated drainage system are being constructed along the bottom ride to aid timber removal.
Natural regeneration in cleared areas is to be encouraged, with some transplantation within the wood. Some dead timber will be left for woodpeckers, invertebrates and fungi. Other management tasks include ride and boundary maintenance, scrub clearance, and pond work.
There is a Work Party on the third Sunday of each month from 10 am to 4 pm. Come for the morning or afternoon or all day if you wish. Wear stout shoes and gloves. Please make sure your Tetanus jab is current.
CONTACT: Chris Terrell-Nield 0115 9374906
Bluebells and Greater Stichwort in bloom, one of the glories of the wood.