HAWKES WOOD
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CLASSIFICATION
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STATUS
The Trust owns the freehold of this delightful nine acre woodland on sloping ground, near Wadebridge. This was the first reserve to be acquired by the Trust.
TYPE OF HABITAT
Cornish oak woodland covering 3.2ha.
ACCESS
Grid Ref: SW 986 710
From the old A39 in the centre of Wadebridge, take the turning to Polmorla Treneague.
Access to the reserve is from a track south of Treneague, or from a footpath thi conifer
woods just east of Polmorla (500m walk across a footbridge).
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The reserve comprises an old oakwood, a stream and a disused quarry which supports a rich growth of ferns. It is mainly coppiced oak and sycamore, ash and a typical ground flora. It is exceptionally good for woodland birds. The wood was cut during the 1914-18 war and then neglected for many years until management was initiated by the Trust. The neglected oak coppice is characteristic of many Cornish woods. Within it there are dense patches of holly, with sycamore, ash, hazel and beech as well as wild cherry. The ground flora is dominated by amat of bramble with honeysuckle.
SPECIES OF PARTICULAR INTEREST
During the year, woodland flowers include herb robert, primrose, bluebell and wood anemone. Note the sweet woodruff near the reserve, entrance and the brilliant kingcups near the stream. Out of the long list of birds that frequent the wood some of the ones to look out for include buzzard, jay, tawny owl, green and great spotted woodpeckers, and tree creeper. Badger, grey squirrel, mink - of both the black and brown variety ; and fox are all present. Otters also frequent the stream, together with Britain's commonest and smallest bat, the pipistrelle. A wide variety of butterflies occur, including tortoiseshell, silver washed fritillary, ringlet and many others. The elephant hawkmoth caterpillar feeds at night on the soft hairy leaves of willowherb and the moth itself is on the wing in June.