Beechwoods

Beechwoods - Christine Newell

Beechwoods - Christine Newell

The nature reserve will be closed on Wednesday 29th November for safety reasons while we carry out essential habitat works. We apologise for any inconvenience.

A small yet impressive wood of majestic beeches

Location

Wort's Causeway
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB22 3FB
A static map of Beechwoods

Know before you go

Size
10 hectares
z

Entry fee

No

Grazing animals

No

Walking trails

Wood can be dangerous in high winds because the beech trees may shed branches

Access

Park in layby on Wort's Causeway, opposite the wood

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

Anytime

About the reserve

Beechwoods was originally planted in the 1840s, and Medieval plough terraces are still visible beneath the trees. The original beech trees are all mature, and beech-bark fungi combined with autumn gales has caused many of them to fall in recent years. Saplings have sprung up in the gaps, and the wood is now developing a more varied structure. West of the old wood, local people planted a new area of broadleaved trees in 1992. These trees will mature to provide a range of habitats to complement the old wood.

Beneath the beech trees, delicate white helleborine orchids thrive on the dry chalky soil, pushing up their flowering spikes in the spring before the beech leaves cast their deep, cool shade. These orchids are usually found under beech, and this nature reserve is one of their most northerly outposts. In years with a good beech-mast crop, large flocks of bramblings gather to exploit the rich food source. 

Additional information

FOR ANY MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM:   communicationsteam@wildlifebcn.org or 01954 713500 and ask for comms team.

Contact us

Contact number: 01954 713500

Environmental designation

Local Nature Reserve (LNR)
Betony at Upwood Meadows June  - c. Robert Enderby

Betony at Upwood Meadows June  - c. Robert Enderby

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