Wistow wood - George Barker
Wistow Wood
Location
OS Map Reference
TL 296 820
Know before you go
Entry fee
NoAccess
Good paths, two steps at entrance and a narrow bridge in north end
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all times except during management work. Please see details below about temporary closure.Best time to visit
SpringAbout the reserve
The wood contains evidence of a long history of traditional management. Numerous old ash trees with several stems indicate the past practice of coppicing, where trees were cut at ground level to take a crop of wood and stumps were left to re-grow. Most of the mature trees were removed before the 1920s, but since then the wood has been left to regenerate. The old rotten bases of the trees provide a marvellous habitat for mosses and lichens, fungi and insects. During spring the woodland floor abounds with dog's mercury, bluebells, wood anemones and primroses. The woodland rides have summer flora including meadowsweet and ragged-robin as well as a variety of grasses and sedges.