Knebworth Woods is a 120.8-hectare (299-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Knebworth, immediately south of Stevenage in Hertfordshire. The planning authority is North Hertfordshire District Council.[1][2]
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 | |
| Location | Hertfordshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | TL228223 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 120.8 hectares |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
The wood is ancient in origin and ecologically diverse. It is described by Natural England as "a most important woodland in the north of the county lying on poorly drained soils derived from underlying clay-with-flints". The dominant trees are oak and hornbeam. Ponds have unusual plant species, and the site is rich in fungi and bryophytes. Breeding birds include nightingales,[1] and purple emperor butterflies have been reported in Watery Grove in the north of the site.[3]
There is access by a footpath which is a continuation of Chadwell Road.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Knebworth Woods citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ "Map of Knebworth Woods". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ Liz Goodyear; Andrew Middleton (2012). "Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) flight period survey as part of the Hertfordshire Purple Emperor SAP 2011 with additional notes on Middlesex sightings" (PDF). Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. p. 3. Retrieved 3 January 2015.