King's Wood and Urchin Wood SSSI (grid reference ST454645) is a 128.1 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the villages of Cleeve and Congresbury, North Somerset, notified in 1990.
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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Location | Avon |
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Grid reference | ST454645 |
Coordinates | 51°22′37″N 2°47′09″W / 51.37691°N 2.78586°W |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 128.1 hectares (1.281 km2; 0.495 sq mi) |
Notification | 1990 |
Natural England website |
The site has long been renowned for its botanical interest and records date back to the County Flora of 1893. The woodland supports a particularly high diversity of vascular plants, including populations of the nationally rare plant Purple Gromwell (Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum) and the scarce Angular Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum).[1]
![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Kings_wood%2C_Somerset.jpg/260px-Kings_wood%2C_Somerset.jpg)
Large areas of King's Wood were replanted during the 1960s with beech Fagus sylvatica and a variety of conifer species including Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Lawson's cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) . These crop trees have, however, largely been unsuccessful and the replanted areas are now being overtaken by hardwoods.[1]
King's Wood supports nationally important populations of the rare and endangered greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) and dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius), and a nationally scarce Chrysomelid beetle (Clytra quadripunctata).[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c English Nature citation sheet for the site . Retrieved 19 July 2006.