Hunter’s Wood

Hunter's Wood is a new extension to Warburton's Wood, an ancient, semi-natural clough woodland SSSI, through which flows a small tributary of the River Weaver.

Key features of this site are the wild service trees, small-leaved lime, a diverse ground flora and three small areas of herb-rich unimproved grassland.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust acquired Hunter's Wood in May 1999, as an extension of an existing CWT nature reserve - Warburton's Wood. Together, they are part of a larger wildlife corridor extending along the River Weaver including other Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's) and Sites of Biological Importance (SBI's).

When bought, the site comprised poor semi-improved grassland, which had been grazed by cattle and a small strip of ancient semi-natural woodland.

Whilst it was acknowledged that the existing grassland had value for wildlife, it was felt that the area could be significantly improved through the creation of new woodland.

The reason for developing the site as woodland rather than grassland (the other practical option), was that the fertile agricultural ground did not lend itself to the development of a good grassland in the future.

However, despite the fertility, the location provided near optimal conditions for creating new woodland, as most of the site is bordered by ancient semi-natural woodland (much of it SSSI). In addition, the siting of the new woodland enabled 2 ancient semi-natural woodlands to be linked, reducing fragmentation of this important habitat and providing opportunities for the dispersal of woodland species to the new woodland.

Following a botanical survey a planting design was produced, which formed the basis of the management plan. We also organised for surveys of terrestrial invertebrates and aquatic invertebrates (the site has 2 ponds), prior to any tree planting.

In the autumn of 1999 and 2000 seed collection events were organised and students and school children helped gather seeds from the surrounding woodland.

Following approval of a Woodland Grant Scheme application planting began in winter 2000 unfortunately amidst heavy never ending rain. Contractors planted 400m of hedge in what turned into liquid mud and volunteers braved the weather to help plant almost 3000 trees. In addition, some sycamores were felled by contractors.

Planting was brought to an abrupt halt by the start of the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in 2001. However since then work on the reserve has continued, at it appears the majority of our young trees are thriving.

Within the reserve several distinct habitats can be identified. The main area consists of deciduous woodland containing oak, ash, wych elm, gean, hazel, hawthorn and guelder rose.

The woodland also contains specimens of small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata), and wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis). There is some sycamore which is slowly being removed by selective felling.

The ground flora of the woodland is very rich and is at its best in the spring. Fifty or so species occur including wood anemone, bluebell, primrose, yellow archangel, giant bellflower, common violet and pale wood violet.

The wood contains several scarce and locally distributed grasses, sedges and rushes including hairy woodrush, pendulous sedge and wood millet.
There are several areas of herb-rich unimproved grassland characterised by species such as primrose, lousewort, knapweed and spotted orchid. To prevent the spread of common gorse and hawthorn and to maximise floral diversity, these areas are mown.

The reserve is bordered in places with a hedge, which in many areas merges with the woodland.

Photo Gallery

Tree Species at Hunter's Wood

Since 2009 EFORESTS has worked with the land owners and local volunteers to plant 250 new native tree species.

The following tree species were planted on the site:

IMPORTANT VISITOR INFO – Take only photos. Leave only footsteps.

To keep the woodland as natural as possible we don’t label individual trees and we ask that visitors do not place their own plaques, labels, flowers, etc in the woodland. Each tree we plant should be seen as part of a natural woodland.

Before visiting this woodland, please read our Frequently Asked Questions page, which gives you helpful tips about your tree and visitor guidance.

Dedicate a tree to be planted in Cheshire or elsewhere in the UK.