Land Management at Old Nuns Wood
Old Nun Wood, and the adjoining Wappenbury
Wood form part of the Princethorpe Woodlands complex which is the
largest woodland landscape in Warwickshire covering approximately
54km². There are 16 key woodlands, including the Warwickshire
Wildlife Trust's Ryton Wood SSSI, Wappenbury Wood and Old Nun Wood,
covering over 400 ha and representing 10% of the whole of
Warwickshire's ancient woodland. As such the Local
Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) for Warwickshire, Coventry and
Solihull identifies the Princethorpe Woodlands as 'the most
important cluster of ancient woodlands in Warwickshire' and 'an
outstanding example of a large area of semi-natural habitat'. The
woodlands alone are home to 33 of the 35 butterfly species found in
Warwickshire and important for the following LBAP species;
dormouse, wood white butterfly, dingy skipper butterfly and small
leaved lime. The strength of the complex is the mixture of ancient
woodlands, open areas (glades) and a network of rides (pathways in
the wood) which were historically used for managing the
woodlands.
The recent habitat management was
undertaken in partnership by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and
Butterfly Conservation with financial support from BIFFAWARD (money
from landfill tax credit). It was undertaken over the winter
months to avoid the breeding bird and flowering plant seasons
involved coppicing trees (cutting them down at the base to enable
them to regenerate in a multi-stemmed trunk). This coppicing was
carried out alongside existing pathways through the woodlands to
allow more sunlight into the woodland floor. The sunlight is vital
for the development of ancient woodland plants such as bluebells
and wood anemone. These plants along with other rare plants that
are found in the open areas within the woodland provide food plants
and egg laying sites to some of the rarest species of butterflies
found in county along with a host of other
invertebrates.
Elsewhere in the Princethorpe Woodlands area Warwickshire Wildlife
Trust is working with neighbouring landowners to provide support
and encouragement to plant new woodland and manage privately owned
woodland and farmland landscape in a sensitive way. The
project forms part of the Trust's "Living Landscape" concept which
aims to restore fragmented habitats, enabling species which were
once more widespread to colonise new areas and adapt to climate
change.
For more information on how you can get
involved in the work of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust please visit
their website www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk