Lenaghan Wood ASSI

Lenaghan Wood is a special place because it includes a number of different woodland types, and as a result, it is particularly rich in woodland plants and animals.

While much of the woodland is relatively recent in origin there are a number of large distinct blocks of much older mature wood. downy birch and Sessile oak generally dominate the canopy, with other trees including ash which is characteristic of the wetter slopes at the eastern end, and alder in more waterlogged conditions.

The shrub layer consists of hazel and holly, with hawthorn and rowan. The ground layer is typical of acidic woods and is dominated by mosses with only a scattering of herbs and grasses with occasional bilberry. Where the soils are richer, species such as primrose, lesser celandine, barren strawberry, water avens and wood-sedge are common. Opposite-leaved golden saxifrage, meadowsweet, creeping buttercup and remote sedge are characteristic of the wettest parts. Also present within Lenaghan Wood is the fungus, scarlet elf cup, which grows on dead wood, and the rare and impressive lichen, lungwort.