There are clearly-marked
rides which will take you to most parts of the
wood. In winter or after wet weather, these rides
may be muddy and slippery and boots are advised
at such times. You may encounter Hornets during
summer. Although large and dangerous-looking,
these insects have a generally quiet disposition
and do not normally attack humans.
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The name Romers
is probably a corruption of "rough moors".
The reserve is a fine example of ancient woodland,
partly lying on a plateau, and partly on a steep
south-east facing slope dipping towards Cadmore
Brook, which runs in a steep-sided dingle. The
western edge of the wood is also bounded by a
steep dingle, and along the northern boundary
there is a well-defined woodland bank - a strong
indicator of an ancient woodland site. Other
plants indicating ancient woodland include Bluebell,
Wood Anemone, and Yellow Archangel.
The whole wood is underlain by marls and sands
derived from Old Red Sandstone, which are exposed
in a deep gulley running east towards the Cadmore
Brook. Some tufa present in the stream running
in this gulley can probably be attributed to
base-rich cornstone bands within the Old Red
Sandstone. Otherwise the soils of the wood
are generally acidic and support a corresponding
neutral or acid-loving flora.
Romers Wood was enclosed in 1807 and the records
of the Bockleton estate show that shortly afterwards
large numbers of trees were planted into the
central and southern parts of the site. Many
of these were European Larch, which possibly
had a depressant effect on the ground flora,
accounting for the profuse Bramble growth and
patchy distribution of Bluebells today. Thinning
operations were carried out in 1865, when many
of the present-day Oaks were planted. Further
selective thinning of Oak and Ash was carried
out by the Trust in 1984, and again in 1995-6,
when five clear-fell coupes were opened and
replanted, many non-native trees like Sycamore
were felled, and alien shrubs like Snowberry
were removed. Parts of the upper sections of
the wood are permanently damp and have been
colonised by rushes, Lady's Smock and Creeping
Jenny. Other damp areas along the Cadmore Brook
contain many Alders, together with Meadowsweet,
Water Avens and Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage.
Herb Paris is locally abundant in the wood. The wood is rich in other wildlife. A survey
carried out in 1980 revealed 25 species of
mollusc, with several uncommon species restricted
to ancient woodlands. The most spectacular
insect has to be the Hornet, which can be
seen flying around old tree hulks in late
summer.
Dormice are present in the wood, and foxes
may be seen along the rides. Among the bird
species, Pied Flycatchers are present but
can be elusive. Both Marsh and Willow Tits
breed,
and there are usually one or two pairs of
Wood Warblers and Redstarts. In autumn
the wood
is worth visiting to see some of the interesting
fungi to be found. |
Best
time to visit
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All times
of year. |
Habitat
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Ancient semi-natural
Oak/Ash woodland with 19th century planting. |
Size
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12.5 hectares (30 acres). |
Specialites
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Dormice. Wood
Warbler (4-7), Pied Flycatcher (4-7), Redstart
(4-7), Willow Tit, Raven. Herb Paris (4-6),
Water Avens (4-9), Opposite-leaved Golden
Saxifrage (3-7), Yellow Archangel (5-6),
Hornet (Spring-summer). Parasol Toadstools
Lepiota spp., Hen of the Woods Grifola frondosa. |
Parking
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Park on the
grass verge next to the Memorial Hall (See
Motlins Hole). |
OS
map
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Nearby
Reserves
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Motlins
Hole & Upper
Swingley Wood. |
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