Barnsley Biodiversity Action Plan. Post-15 BAP. Updated to 2023

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Bluebell, Stichwort and Yellow Archangel plant species

Ancient woodland indicators

One of the most striking features of Ancient Woodlands, distinguishing them from recently established woods and plantations, is their rich and varied ground flora. Certain plants -Ancient Woodland Indicators- are mainly restricted to ancient woodlands. A good range of such plants therefore may indicate an Ancient Woodland.


These plants are found because Ancient Woodland, known to have been in existence since 1600, has developed distinctive soils, fungi, and plant communities over the centuries.

Ancient Woodland Indicator Plants in Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Barren Strawberry

Bluebell

Bilberry

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Bugle

Bush Vetch

Climbing Corydalis

Common Cow-wheat

Common Figwort

Dog’s Mercury

Early-purple Orchid

Greater Stitchwort

Hairy St John’s Wort

Pale Wood Violet/Early Dod Violet

Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage

Perforate St John’s Wort

Pignut

Primrose

Ramsons

Sanicle

Slender St John’s Wort

Square-stalked St John’s Wort

Sweet Woodruff

Townhall Clock/Moschatel

Toothwort

Trailing St John’s Wort

Water Avens

Wild Strawberry

Wood Anemone

Wood Forget-Me-Not

Wood Horsetail

Wood Sorrel

Wood Speedwell

Yellow Archangel

Yellow Pimpernell


Grasses, Sedges and Woodrushes

Great Woodrush

Hairy Woodrush

Pale Sedge

Pendulous Sedge

Remote Sedge

Wood Sedge

Wood barley

Wood Meliick

Wood Millet


Trees and Shrubs

Aspen

Crab Apple

Guelder Rose

Holly

Sessile Oak

Small-leaved Lime

Wild Cherry


Based on AWI list compiled by Mel Jones.

Ancient Woodland Indicators

The most often seen Ancient Woodland Indicator plants include Bluebell, Dog’s Mercury, Greater Stitchwort, Wood Sorrel and Yellow Archangel. Wood Anemone, Ransoms (Wild Garlic) and Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage are found in damper areas, often alongside streams. Sessile Oak is strongly associated with Ancient Woodland as is Holly.


Although not ancient woodland indicators, Lesser Celandine and Honeysuckle are welcome features of these and other woodlands.


A list of plants characteristic of Ancient Woodlands in South Yorkshire has been produced by Professor Melvyn Jones. The presence of these plants as well as other notable plants is used in Barnsley for the identification of woodland Local Wildlife Sites.


By themselves the presence of a good number of Ancient Woodland Indicators in a woodland - although a welcome indication of biodiversity value - is not conclusive evidence that the woodland is ancient. This requires historical evidence from maps and archival material.


The presence of Ancient Woodland Indicator species in a hedge-bank may be evidence that the hedge was created from ancient woodland and in grassland may be evidence of former woodland habitat.

Bluebell Wood anenome Sessile Oak