Four blocks of woodland and some adjacent chalk grassland and scrub make up this site, which lies in a shallow dry valley. To the north are the well-structured and probably ancient Mitchley Wood and Ragged Grove, and in the south are Barnfield Shaw and Ansley Berry which are less well structured. Mitchley Wood is mentioned in the 11th century Domesday Book. The site is divided into various ownerships and much of it is accessible to the public.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Mitchley Wood
Borough: Croydon
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 35.12 ha
Description
Wildlife
In the north, canopy trees include oak, yew, silver birch, beech and ash. There is a well-structured understorey of hazel and field maple. The shrub layer includes rowan, holly and yew. The ground flora includes bluebell, wood anemone, wood melick and yellow archangel. The two southern woods have fewer species and far more bramble, with occasional wild cherries. The grassland and scrub lie east of Ragged Grove and around Barnfield Shaw on two former agricultural fields, Longlands and Barnfield. Pyramidal and common spotted orchids and large numbers of bee orchids have been found here amongst the ash, hawthorn, oak and birch scrub, together with other grassland plants typically found on chalk soils.Facilities
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