“Enchanting walks take you down sheltered rides, where brimstone butterflies
feed on sunny spring days and woodcock display at dusk.”

This ancient woodland is noted for its small-leaved lime coppice – an indication that the northern part has existed since prehistoric times. The southern section dates back to 17th century being mainly oak, hazel, ash and wild cherry – a favourite food of the resident but shy hawfinch best seen the early morning. The wood’s 22 mostly seasonal ponds are good places to spot frog, toad and newt including the protected great-crested newt.

Flowers like violet helleborine, woodruff, herb-paris, bluebell, pignut and early-purple orchid look a treat in spring and the 15 species of butterfly include brimstone, speckled wood and purple hairstreak whose caterpillars feed on oak. The endearing dormouse makes its home in the hazel coppice.

Summer songsters include nightingale, while other birds like treecreeper, all three woodpecker species, woodcock and nuthatch are resident here. Like many of Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s woodland reserves much of this site is managed by coppicing, which involves cutting sections of woodland on a rotational basis to prolong life, increase diversity and encourage re-growth.

Mating brimstone butterfly	Common toad are among the many amphibians drawn to the wood’s ponds

STAR SPECIES
Small-leaved lime
Hawfinch
Violet helleborine