Asham Wood

Asham Wood
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Shown within Somerset
Area of Search Somerset
Grid reference ST705460
Coordinates 51°12′45″N 2°25′25″W / 51.21244°N 2.42371°W / 51.21244; -2.42371Coordinates: 51°12′45″N 2°25′25″W / 51.21244°N 2.42371°W / 51.21244; -2.42371
Interest Biological
Area 140.6 ha (347 acres)
Notification 1963 (1963)
Natural England website

Asham Wood (grid reference ST705460) is a 140.6-hectare (347-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Downhead in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, notified in 1963.

Asham Wood is the largest and most diverse of the ancient semi-natural woods in the Mendips. It has been the subject of controversy and attempts to protect the environment from increased quarrying activity in the area.

The wood occupies 2 deep valleys and the intervening plateau. Most of the underlying rocks are calcareous Carboniferous Limestone and Shales, but Devonian Portishead Beds outcrop along the northern valley. There are a range of unusual flora and fauna.[1]

At Asham Wood near Frome coppicing and 50 dormouse boxes have been introduced in order to encourage nesting. The boxes are monitored and dormice numbers are recorded.[2]

References

  1. "Asham Woods" (PDF). English Nature. Retrieved 2006-07-17.
  2. "Somerset : Asham Wood and Batts Combe quarry - Protecting dormice". Hanson. Retrieved 2006-07-17.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, July 08, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.