Dingle Wood

Biological site of scientific interest

51°48′03″N 2°38′09″W / 51.800872°N 2.635862°W / 51.800872; -2.635862InterestBiologicalArea9.95 hectareNotification1972Natural England website

Dingle Wood (grid reference SO562115) is a 9.95-hectare (24.6-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1972.^[1]^[2] The site is listed in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review' as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).^[3] The wood is located within the Forest of Dean Forest Park and the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.^[1]

Location

The Forest of Dean has been an area for timber production for hundreds of years. This has been maintained by careful planting and woodland management regimes. There is a mosaic of woodland types. The central region of the Dean lies on Coal Measures of the Carboniferous time period. This supports Oak and the ground flora is lime-hating. Around this central area are the Carboniferous limestones and Devonian sandstones. These produce fertile soils and support a variety of woodland types with a richer ground flora.^[1]

Woodland types and ground flora

Dingle Wood is a planted woodland but considered to be an example of the best type of woodland habitat. Types of trees include Oak, Ash, Beech, some Cherry and Rowan. Shrubs include Holly, Yew, Field Maple and Hazel.^[1]

The wood to the east is dominated by Bramble, Bluebell, Wood Anemone, Wood Sorrel and Ivy. The wood to the west has uneven terrain, and deep pits (Scowles) from old iron workings, and supports uncommon plants, for example Herb Paris, Common Wintergreen, Bird's Nest Orchid and the Greater Butterfly Orchid.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Natural England SSSI information on the citation^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Forest of Dean District Local Plan Review, adopted November 2005, Appendix D 'Nature Conservation Site Designations Within the Forest of Dean District', Sites of Special Scientific Interest Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
^ Forest of Dean District Local Plan Review, adopted November 2005, Appendix D 'Nature Conservation Site Designations Within the Forest of Dean District', Key Wildlife Sites Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine

SSSI Source

Natural England SSSI information on the citation^{[permanent dead link]}
Natural England SSSI information on the Dingle Wood unit^{[permanent dead link]}