Tunneley Wood, Exton
Selected Wild Place / Other Wild Places / Public Rights of Way / VC55 boundary
The Viking Way long-distance footpath runs along the western boundary and a further public footpath along the northern boundary. These are best reached from Exton village.
Private but with a public footpath along the perimeter.
Site species count:
This woodland is ancient woodland on growing on Glacial Boulder Clay and covering 42 ha., however it has been greatly affected by twentieth century planting. It lies to the north of Exton village.
The main canopy trees in the remaining semi-natural area are Ash Fraxinus excelsior and Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur, with Hazel Corylus avellana and Field Maple Acer campestre frequent in the shrub layer. Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus is also frequent. Wild-service Sorbus torminalis and Small-leaved Lime Tilia cordata have been recorded in the past. The ground flora is not particularly species-rich. Bugle Ajuga reptans and Enchanter’s Nightshade Circaea lutetiana are amongst the most frequent plants, whilst Wood Speedwell Veronica montana, Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum and Toothwort Lathraea squamaria are more localised. A number of local rarities such as Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis have not been seen in recent years.
There is a large Fallow Deer population in the area.
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