Shadwell Wood nature reserve
Ashdon near Saffron WaldenMap Ref: TL 573 412
Public Transport - Nothing suitable
Small site not suitable for dog walking.
Directions
On the main road from Saffron Walden, about one mile before the village of Ashdon. Entrance to the reserve is by a track at the side of 'Barleycroft' bungalow. The track can be difficult in wet weather.
Shadwell Wood is 17.5 acres and can be described as an Oxlip Wood. Oxlips only grow where the counties of Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk meet.
Designation:
Site of Special Scientific Interest
What to look for:
The trees in this oxlip woodland are Oak and Ash, with coppiced Hazel and Maple growing between them. Shadwell Wood is sympathetically managed so that many of our woodland flowering plants flourish. Essex Wildlife Trust, Chairman, Ray Tabor is warden of this wood and has a particular interest in deer management and has led the Trust's project of the re-introduction of the Oxlip to Great Bardfield.
A host of flowering plants grow on the woodland floor. Early spring brings Oxlips, Wood Violets and Wood Anemones. These give way to early Purple Orchids, Bluebells, Bugle and Herb Paris. Summer brings Common Spotted Orchids, Meadowsweet and Sanicle.
The wood is managed in the traditional manner by coppicing. This encourages many summer visiting birds to nest including the occasional Nightingale. Fencing is used to exclude deer from the wood otherwise they would browse the tender coppice regrowth, killing or stunting the trees and eat the flowers.
Access
Accessible at all times but unsuitable for wheelchairs.
Did you know?
Shadwell Wood was visited by Oliver Rackham and he found it to be one of the best oxlip woodlands in the country and thought it to be an excellent example of ancient woodlands, with all the woodland indicators, such as Bluebells, Primroses and Dogs Mercury.