Whippendell Wood
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Location | Hertfordshire |
---|---|
Grid reference | TQ076978 |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 66.9 hectares |
Notification | 1984 |
Location map | Magic Map |
Whippendell Wood (or Whippendell Woods) is an ancient woodland on the edges of Watford, England, covering an area of 165.3 acres (66.9 ha).[1] It is owned and managed by Watford Borough Council.[2] It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and has held this status since 1954.[2] Its present name comes from the Anglo-Saxon name "Wippa denu", meaning "Wippa's valley".[3]
History[]
Whippendell Wood is an ancient woodland, meaning it has been continuously wooded since at least 1600. The wood was formerly part of the Cassiobury estate.[2] There is an avenue of lime trees dating back to 1672, which runs diagonally through the wood.[2] The northern section of the wood was replanted at some point in the 18th or 19th century.[2] Other phases of clearing and replanting followed in the 1940s and 1960s. In 1987, a storm damaged many of the trees in the wood.[2]
Wildlife[]
Whippendell Wood has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, due to its diverse range of fungi and invertebrates. Originally, it was listed in 1954 with , but was declared as an SSSI on its own in 1986.[2]
Flora[]
A range of trees can be found in the wood, which is predominantly composed of oak, beech, ash and silver birch. There are also a significant number of cherry, hawthorn, hazel, holly and hornbeam trees. Sycamore trees are also found in the wood, but these are being felled as part of a management plan, as they are not native to the area.[2]
The wood is known for its bluebells, which are particularly prominent in April–May. There are also a few rare species of fungus, including , which has only been recorded on three other occasions in the whole of Europe. First noted in the wood in 1995, samples are now kept at Kew Gardens.[2]
Fauna[]
The wood is home to a number of bird species, including great spotted, lesser spotted and green woodpeckers, tawny owls and sparrow hawks. Mammals found in the wood include bats, badgers, and deer.[2]
Present use[]
The wood is open to the public, and there are several footpaths and orienteering routes through the wood. The wood is popular with dog walkers, and is also used as a shortcut to Cassiobury Park. Horses are not permitted into the wood, but a track for horse riders runs around the perimeter.[2]
Whippendell Wood has been used as a filming location for Star Wars; exterior shots for scenes set on the planet Naboo were filmed here for the 1999 prequel, The Phantom Menace.[2][4] Whippendell has also featured in television series such as Holby City and Silent Witness.[2]
Watford Borough Council own the wood, with their maintenance funded by income from filming and the Forestry Commission.[2]
See also[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Whippendell Wood. |
References[]
- ^ "Whippendell Wood (citation)" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Whippendell Wood". Watford Borough Council. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ Williamson, Tom (2000). The Origins of Hertfordshire. Manchester University Press. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-7190-4491-5.
- ^ Hearn, Marcus (2005). The cinema of George Lucas. H.N. Abrams. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-8109-4968-3.
- Forests and woodlands of Hertfordshire
- Watford
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Hertfordshire