King's Wood
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One of the best surviving examples of the once great medieval Rockingham Forest now in the suburbs of Corby |
As part of the medieval Rockingham Forest, King’s Wood was managed for centuries as a Crown coppice – to provide timber as well as shelter for the King’s deer. It survived because of its value as a game preserve and later, due to the expansion of Corby, it became the first Local Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire.
Traditional management of the trees by coppicing and pollarding has been restored. Over 250 species of plants have been recorded, including wood anemone, dog’s mercury, enchanter’s-nightshade, yellow archangel and wood sorrel – all characteristic of ancient woodlands.
In wetter areas, tufted hair-grass, ragged robin and meadow sweet are common. Among the oak, ash and field maple are crab apple, guelder-rose, both common and Midland hawthorns, and occasional thickets of blackthorn. Birds such as treecreeper, nuthatch, tawny owl and all three species of woodpecker can be seen.
Birds: Nuthatch, tree creeper, long-tailed tit |
Plants: Primrose, cowslip, dog’s mercury, wood anemone, wood-sorrel, yellow archangel, ragged-robin, wild cherry, wood speedwell Insects: Holly blue and green-veined white butterflies, moths Birds: Warblers, tits, turtle dove |
Plants: Meadow sweet, enchanter's-nightshade Insects: Dragonflies, common blue damselfly Birds: Warblers, tits, woodpeckers, spotted flycatcher Mammals: Bats |
Fungi: Woodland fungi Plants: Spindle berries Birds: Tawny owl |