1
FC
2000
Woodland Survey Sheet
UNITARY AUTHORITY
GENERAL SITE DESCRIPTION
Herefordshire
WGS REF NO.
SITE NAME:
Mowley Wood
PARISH:
Staunton on Arrow
AGENT
NATURE CONSERVATION STATUS / DESIGNATIONS
Paul Segrott
Special Wildlife Site
TOTAL AREA (OF INCLUDED
WOODLAND)
39.6 ha
CONTACT:
BALFOURS,
MARKET
HOUSE,
CRAVEN ARMS,
SHROPSHIRE
SY7 9NN
01588 674039
OTHER DESIGNATIONS / PROTECTIONS
GRID REF (ACCESS)
River Arrow archaeology project, Otter associations.
351599
ANCIENT / RECENT SEMI-NATURAL / PLANTATION
SURVEYOR
Ancient semi-natural woodland 27.1 ha
Ancient woodland site
10.8 ha
Recent semi-natural
0.64 ha
Recent semi-natural (railway line different
ownership)
2.01 ha
David Lovelace
UK BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN
DATE OF SURVEY
Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland
April & May 2002
WOODLAND VEGETATION TYPES (MARK ON MAP):
SEMI-NATURAL WOODLAND TYPE (HAPS):
Lowland Mixed Broadleaves
NVC COMMUNITIES
W8 Fraxinus excelsior – Acer campestre – Mercurialis perennis woodland
W10 Quercus robur – Pteridium aquilinum – Rubus fruticosus woodland
PLANTATIONS:
Mixed conifer west of old railway line, some recent conifer/broadleaved mixed planting (2.9 ha) in
main ASNW block.
ADJACENT LAND
Permanent pasture and arable
THREATS
Deer, Rhododendron, conifers, evenness of age structure
ASPECT
SLOPE
ALTITUDE
Plateau, south & east facing flanks
Flanks up to 1:2
160 – 125m
SOIL
Somewhat acidic brown earths on the plateau, Clay to the west and north, some limestone outcrops
in the south facing flanks overlooking the Arrow.
GEOLOGY
Part of the glacial moraine complex of depressions and hillocks characteristic of the Titley area. The
flanks of wood overlooking the Arrow are glacial cuts.
CLIMATIC FACTORS
Rainfall ~75 cm/year, wind exposure highest at the western end (note windblown trees)
Mowley Wood NWS
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DL 2002
2b
Woodland Survey Sheet
REF NO.
OVERALL DESCRIPTION
ORIGIN, STANDS & STRUCTURE
Mowley wood is an ancient woodland divided into two blocks by the railway cutting which
runs north-south.. Some 30 ha is a compact area of ancient semi-natural woodland and is the
largest remaining block of ancient semi-natural woodland in this part of NW Herefordshire.
The next ASNWs of comparable size being Lyonshall Park Wood 4 km SW, Oaker Wood 11
km East and Pokewell wood 7 km north.
See map 1 and tables on page 11 for overview and map 6 page 17 for locations of photos and
features. Refer to the recent colour air photo page 16 for the present structure of the wood.
The historical evolution is covered in maps from 1830 (page 12) to the 1996 aerial photo on
page 16. This maps and air photos have been digitised and rectified to modern OS grid.
Numbered photographs are by the author except 17, 22 and 34 are by Beryl Lewis.
This report uses the compartment (cpt) numbers and map supplied by the agent.
 The western block (compartment 12, 8.2ha) is mixed conifers (DF, GF, NS, Larch)
established in 1959/1960 after clearfelling the former ancient semi-natural broadleaves.
There are significant semi-natural vegetation remnants in this cpt including a pond and
springlines with species rich vegetation.
 The larger block (compartments 1 – 8, 31.5 ha) east of the railway line is mainly c1900
Oak high forest with some Ash which dominant in places. The stand is of stool and some
plantation origin with a scatter of Victorian Beech and occasional Larch. The plateau centre
and eastern flanks of the wood are principally Oak dominated stands with species poor
under-storey (National Vegetation Classification W10)
 More species rich stands (National Vegetation Classification W8) occur on the
calcareous quarried outcrops overlooking the river Arrow (cpt1 and SW of cpt 5) where Oak
is in mixture with Ash, Hazel + occasional Field Maple & Wych Elm. The northern parts of
cpts 4, 5 and 7 have deeper, damper soils also where Ash is in mixture with Oak and the
stands would be classified as W8.
 The railway line 2.1 ha, abandoned in 1961 and now secondary Ash-Willow-Hazel
woodland, is a Herefordshire Nature Trust reserve.
 There are two areas of recent (~10 years) conifer and Oak mixed planting totalling 2.9 ha
compartments 2 and 3 and a small part of 5. Photos 2,3 page 18 and photos 30 and 31 page
25, 26)
 One Sub compartment of 1940’s planted Beech ~0.7 ha in cpt 7.
 Birch regeneration has grown up along the edges of the recently (~10 years) made wide
circular ride and there are small other areas of Birch within cpts 4 & 7. Birch dominates a
former assart in the NE sector of cpt 5 along with Wild Cherry.
 One small area of mature semi-natural Aspen (west part of cpt 4), next to railway line.
 Alder fringes the two lakes within cpt 5 and Guelder Rose grows by one of them.
UNDER-STOREY COMPOSITION
Hazel occurs throughout the broadleaved stands but is only abundant in the W8 areas where
Field Maple and Wych Elm are also present. Rhododendron and Cherry Laurel are both
present throughout the wood as minor components. Rowan occurs occasionally and a few
Yew seedlings are recorded.
GROUND LAYER
There are fine displays of Wood Anemone and Bluebell throughout most of the woodland,
along with abundant Yellow Archangel, Dog’s Mercury, Wood Speedwell, patches of Wood
Sorrel, Red Campion, Dog Violet, occasional Primrose, Pignut. Wild Daffodil occurs GROUND
Mowley Wood NWS
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DL 2002
GROUND LAYER
(continued)
confined to NE part, Goldilocks Ranunculus auricomus, Early Purple Orchid and Common
Spotted Orchid along the ride and near the quarried area if compartment 1. This fine ground
flora extends some way into the predominantly Oak NVC W10 areas of the plateau area
indicating that management over the last century is partly responsible for impoverished stand
diversity.
The conifer stand cpt 12 west of the railway line (photos pages 27 and 28) has remnants of
ASNW ground flora especially around the edges of the wood which includes a pond and wet
area (with toad spawn). The southern slopes of cpt 12 have a number of calcareous flushes
with rich ground flora and some semi-natural stand remnants. These include Hard Shield
Fern Polystichum aculeatum, Valerian Valeriana officinalis, Opposite-leaved Golden
Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Wild Garlic as well as all of the above ground
flora.
Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina occurs in cpt 4 and edge of cpt 12.
The railway line was built in c1875 has much of the above flora including Hard Shield Fern
but less Bluebell and Wood Anemone. The line is an interesting test of rates of colonisation
of native woodland flora. Unfortunately it also has Rhododendron. (page 26).
THREATS & TRENDS
 The Rhododendron and Cherry Laurel population could well expend in the future – it is
noticeable that a large Rhododendron bush has colonised part of the railway line –
supposedly a nature reserve.
 Deer are present is numbers to cause a problem for restocking and ground flora locally.
 Much of the central and eastern part of the wood has an unnatural preponderance of Oak
of even age and much of the under-storey is etiolated.
 The long term continuation of the 1960’s conifer stands in cpt 12 could jeopardise
restoration of remaining semi-natural vegetation in this compartment.
 The conifers (NS and some RC) of the conifer/oak intimate mixture recently planted into
cpts 2 and 3 is beginning to dominate this part of the woodland and to detract from its
ancient semi-natural character.
 More decaying & veteran trees would improve the dead wood habitat.
 Creation of open areas (eg the wide circular ride) has improved the structural diversity
and increased scrub edge habitat – but such habitat remains scarce in the woodland overall
and the scrub needs to be periodically cut to maintain the edge habitat.
 The ponds in the NE part are shaded restricting their contribution to habitat diversity
within the wood.
 Further management may imperil the archaeology of the woodland without care in using
machinery and identifying the features on the ground.
Mowley Wood NWS
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3
WOODLAND SURVEY SHEET
DETAILED STAND DESCRIPTIONS & ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES
REF NO.
HABITATS, FEATURES & COMMUNITIES (mark on map)
Mowley wood makes an attractive habitat for woodland birds, the more so since silvicultural
work has produced some open areas and scrub edge habitat along the wide rides (photo 15 page
21). Mature trees and some standing dead branch wood (Birch, Aspen and some of the old
Beech) are key habitats, nesting and food sources.
Birds recorded during the survey are as follows: : Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted
Woodpecker, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Buzzard, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit,
Raven, Tawny Owl.
The wood is also likely to be rich in invertebrates given its size, history and edge habitats. Also,
the small stand of mature Aspens next to the railway line in cpt 4 may harbour surviving
populations of moth species on Aspen eg the Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida, and Poplar
Lutestring Tethea or.
The river Arrow is an important Otter river so that adjacent woodland and water will be
used.See discussion under ‘ponds and spring lines’ below:
Representative sample stand survey details – refer to cpt map and map 6, page 17 for locations.
1. In compartment 4 just NE of railway line (photos 28 – 30, page 25)
Oak, Ash c1900 (one Victorian planted Beech nearby) with occasional sub-canopy Birch over a
light under-storey of Hazel, Birch regen., Honeysuckle, Wych Elm, & occasional Rowan.
Between this sample and conifer/Oak block is an area of dense Birch regen (photo 28)
Near the railway line there is a small stand of fine old Aspens (‘A’ on map 6).
Ground flora: dense Bluebell (>90% cover) with abundant Wood Anemone and Yellow
Archangel (photo 29). Also Wood Speedwell, Greater Stitchwort, Moschatel and Pignut.
Thin Bramble, some Bracken, Yorkshire Fog and Seedlings of: Ash F, Hazel O, Hawthorn O,
Holly R, Birch F.
2. North part of compartment 5.
Ash, Oak irregular canopy, some Oak of Victorian plantation origin DBH to 1m, under-storey
of Hazel (to 30% cover in places), Birch, Hawthorn, Honeysuckle occasional Rowan. Photo 7
page 19. Ground flora: dense Bluebell (>90% cover) with abundant Wood Anemone, occasional
Yellow Archangel, Wild Current, Dog’s Mercury, Red Campion, Male Fern, thin bramble,
seedlings of Ash, Holly. Also a Yew seedling nearby.
Alder next to pond which straddles northern woodland boundary to pasture field (photo 12,
page 20). Deer watering area – browsing and trampling.
3. Area of open secondary Birch Wood in cpt 5 (photo 18, page 22)
Birch ~50 years from 30% to 70% canopy on former pasture assart, some Wild Cherry.
Dominant Bluebell with Red Campion. Occasional Wild Daffodil nearby.
Boundary bank defining assart edge with mature Oak.
4. Oak high forest typical of plateau parts of cpts 5 and 6 (photos 19 page 22).
c1900 Oak (mostly singled stool origin) with occasional Ash (some multi-stemmed), Birch in
subcanopy (~10%). under-storey of thin Hazel, Birch.
Ground flora: Wood Anemone ~30%, Bluebell ~20% bare ground ~30% occasional patches of
Yellow Archangel. One or two fallen trunks.
Mowley Wood NWS
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5. Semi-natural Oak of the plateau region (photos 10, 11, page 19).
The stands of the central ‘plateau’ area of the wood are the most semi-natural, the Oak the most
obviously stool grown - some multi-stemmed, with a variation in age class and an irregular
canopy. Birch and Wild Cherry are frequent over a thin under-storey of Hazel and younger
Birch some Honeysuckle.
ground flora ~70% Bluebell but also areas of bare ground, abundant Wood Anemone, Yellow
Archangel, Male Fern, Wood Speedwell, Male Fern. Some fallen Birch.
6. Strip of Beech plantation and regenerating Birch and Oak.
Visible in both 1948 and 1959 RAF air photos is a rectangular coupe without standards running
north-south coincident for the most part of what was “Frasers Vallet” on the Tithe map, this
remained in ownership separate as ‘coppice’ from the rest of the wood until its sale in 1927. It
was left for natural regeneration except for one part which was planted with Beech – now the
present Beech plantation as indicated on map 1.
Mainly Birch with some Oak regeneration area just west of the Beech plantation, fairly thin
ground flora see Photo 9 page 19 and photo 20 page 23. The Oak is quite straight and drawn up
in places for natural regeneration reminiscent of the old Welsh saying “the Birch is nurse to the
Oak”1 The Beech plantation has suppressed all but the occasional Hazel, sparse Ash
regeneration and some Holly seedlings. 80% of ground is bare of vegetation. However there are
some patches of Wild Daffodil, Bluebell and Yellow Archangel.
7. Stands above Quarry Fields
South part of cpt 5 east of the conifer/Oak block and adjacent to the ‘Quarry fields’ which jut up
to the centre of the wood from the Arrow valley and form a stepped edge to the wood.
Distinctly more limey soils give rise to Oak and Ash HF over an under-storey of Hazel quite
dense in places and includes Field Maple, Wild Cherry, Wych Elm and a carpet of Bluebell,
Wood Anemone, Dog’s Mercury and Yellow Archangel (photos 21 - 24, page 23). The Lshaped internal boundary bank which separated Tithe map parcel 404 from the main part of the
wood is still clearly visible including stone capping (photo 23). The Wild Cherry is abundant
towards the edge here and its blossom makes a fine site in early spring (photo 4 page 18).
8. Eastern and SE flanks (photos 25, 26 page 24)
To the south and east (cpt 8) Mowley wood is mainly Oak high forest stands some stems of
good form which drop down steeply to the Arrow valley floor. Under-storey generally thin
Hazel with occasional Field Maple, Wych Elm reflecting occasional Limestone outcrop amid
the more acid strata. There are patches of Rhododendron along the eastern flank which seem to
be expanding and tumbling down the slopes and dominating the under-storey in places. The
steep soils are somewhat sparse compounded by local deer trampling – otherwise a rich ground
flora with Bluebell, Yellow Pimpernel, Wood Speedwell, Wood Sage, Great Woodrush, Red
Campion, Dog’s Mercury, Wood Anemone. A Badger sett.
9. Southern flanks of compartment 1 & old quarries
The southern flank to the east of the old railway line has old quarry remains and descends to
River Arrow near the railway embankment. Limey soils and rather irregular canopy with
vigorous coppice layer of Hazel, Ash, Wych Elm and Field Maple. Ground is attractive with
sheets of Wood Anemone (photo 27, page 24), Bluebell as well as occasional Early Purple
Orchid and Common Spotted Orchid.
1
See Linnard W., Welsh Woods and Forests. page 155 Gomer press 2000.
Mowley Wood NWS
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10 Conifer block compartment 12 west of old railway line.
Compartment 12 occupies is that part of Mowley wood west of the old
railway line and features in the earliest know map of the wood dated
1807 which is the plan of Titley Court Estate (figure left, with later
railway line
). It was ancient semi-natural woodland until clear
felled in 1959/60, this under-thinned conifer mixture of NS, DF, GF
and Larch has remnants of the original vegetation around the edges,
N within racks and especially the flushed southern edges (see below).
Although rather dead looking in the centre of the stand, experience in
other woods seems to show that the damage done by a single rotation
of conifers need not be fatal to ancient woodland. However, the
sooner the conifers are removed the better. See photos 34 to 40, pages
27, 28. Also see the two RAF air photos 1948 and 1959 showing the
original stand canopy to be similar to the rest of the wood.
11. Ponds and springs
There are four ponds in the wood which are an important dimension to the woodland habitat,
marked ‘P’ on map 6. The main pond is at the bottom of a deep glacial morain depression
within the wood and is about 120m long (photo 16 page 21), fringed with Alder but also
Rhododendron at its eastern end, Guelder Rose is present. A beautiful feature, but the water
appears dark and rather lifeless under heavy shade. The pond along the northern edge (photo 12
page 20) links the wood to the adjacent pasture and is sunlit. The pond amongst the conifers of
cpt 12 is near the western edge and has willow, ash and some aquatic plants including Float
grass and Lesser Spearwort. Also toad spawn was found in April and a young toad there in
May. This pond, especially, is crying out for the adjacent stands to be removed and light let in.
Another key feature of the conifer cpt 12 are the spring lines which descend the steep southern
slopes towards the river Arrow. Arising from limestone strata they are slightly tufa-ous. They
also have a rich flora, the conifers having a few gaps, including Valerian, Hard Shield Fern,
Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage. (photos 35, 37 page 27). The Arrow is an important Otter
river so adjacent woodland and water features is likely to be used this UK Biodiversity Action
Plan species.
12. Railway Line
Although in different ownership it is nonetheless an integral part of wood, so is included here.
The embankment over the Arrow valley and the cutting into central part of the wood was
carried out in the mid 1870’s and the line closed courtesy of Dr. Beeching in 1961. It has since
become secondary Ash, Willow, Hazel woodland with a moderately interesting ground flora.
Acquired in 1976 by the Herefordshire Nature Trust to be managed as a nature it has since been
neglected, unvisited and now has Rhododendron tumbling down one bank. (Photos 32, 33 page
26). The HNT Guide to reserves states “keep parts of the embankments clear of trees to form
sunny, sheltered glades valuable for butterflies”.
Mowley Wood NWS
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4
WOODLAND SURVEY SHEET
Other Values of the Wood
REF NO.
ARCHAEOLOGY & CULTURAL HERITAGE
Much of the following information comes from local historian Beryl Lewis and her
unpublished history of Mowley wood. The wood occupies the rising and undulating ground
just north of the river Arrow and there is 15th century documentary evidence2 of trees on
these slopes from a deed of 1442 giving the name Ackrys (Oak rise) to a parcel of land next
to the ridge which continues into compartment 12. At least part of the wood was ‘coppice’ in
1647 since a compartment near the eastern flank was then called ‘Hollneys’3 and in 1680
“150 trees at 13s 4d be chosen out of 300” were sold from the northern part of the wood4.
The purchaser was allowed to make sawpits and cabins to convert on site and £8 of oak bark
was sold, perhaps to the Frizer family who were then prosperous tanners at the nearby Upper
Tanhouse at Stansbatch. Their name is reflected in a 7 acre coppice piece called Frasers
Vallet which is present on the 1842 tithe map (see map 3 page 12). Other compartments
within the wood had their own names: in 1706 10 acres were coppiced in the ‘Great
Holneys’ on the eastern flank of Mowley Wood5 and in 1678 the tenant of Upper Mowley
farm had the right to a coppice called the ‘Hanging Dole’ provided he left at least ‘one years
growth standing’ at the end of the tenancy.
Mowley Wood is linked to the local Charcoal Iron industry through its proximity to
Strangworth Forge next to the river just 200m south of the SW block of Mowley wood –
now the coniferised compartment 12. The forge was producing up to 150 tons of finished
iron per year in the early 18th century and although the documentation is sparse it is difficult
to believe that charcoal from Mowley wood would not have been used.
The 1842 tithe map shows Mowley wood with the almost identical boundary as at present
(ignoring the railway line) the two exceptions being (a) a rectangle of pasture now secondary
Birch wood in the NE and (b) there was an extra 5 acres to the north of cpt 12, Ash bed tithe
no. 376, now arable.
Notably the western half of the wood was called ‘Hodson’s Wood’ and NW sector ‘Ash
beds’. The tithe map also shows a house a garden in the middle of the NE sector of the
wood, also present on the c1830 1” Ordnance Survey map (see map 2). The remains can still
be seen as low stone plinth under a Cherry Laurel bush (photo 13, 14 page 20), a boundary
Ash and patches a nettles mark the old garden. The occupation of the house by agricultural
labourers is within living memory.
The limestone outcrops on the southern flanks of the wood in compartment 1 have been
quarried in the past but they seemed to have been unworked for two centuries, but remain in
the names of the fields between compartments 1 and 5. There is an old ruined stone house
now subsumed within the wood (see photo 5, page 18) at the extreme SW end of
compartment 5. It was a small holding then an agricultural labourers dwelling. The 1886 6”
map shows two dwellings there as does the 1959 aerial photograph (page 29), also the
outline of a plinth.
Evidence of Victorian estate planting can be seen in the 1886 6” map of Mowley wood
which shows localised conifer symbols amongst broadleaves although confined to three
2
Deeds, private collection, Titley Court.
3
HRO B16/13 Deed of 1697 quoting 1647 Simpson to Carr and Carr to Wyke, and M72/419, Howard and Menheir to Wyke 1683.
4
Harley Family Collection, Brampton Bryan, Bundle 68.
Hereford Records Office B16/13
Mowley Wood NWS
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DL 2002
small areas of the wood (see map 4 page 13).
Boundaries and banks: There are a number of internal boundaries still visible within the
wood of earth and some of stone which are coincident with boundaries on the tithe map, for
example the bank between tithe woodland apportionment plots 404 and 362 is evident (see
photo 23, page 23) A bank can be traced along the western edge of the rectangular pasture
field in the NE sector (tithe apportionment no. 365) and that between Ash Beds (no. 377) and
Hodson’s wood (no. 390). External wood banks of Mowley vary in size but notable
examples are on western the edge of cpt 12 (see photo 34).
Features in the Arrow valley just outside the woodland should also be noted (page 29).
Attempts have been made since to destroy most of these features including the orchards and
hedgerows but archaeology made still survive under the soil surface. In this context it should
be noted that the “Arrow Valley Archaeology” has applied for LEADER6 + funding and is
expected to start later this year. Also Countryside Stewardship funds are available for
landscape restoration projects.
In summary, Mowley Wood has a complex and interesting history closely linked to local
industries and personalities but more archival and field work is still to be done.
LANDSCAPE
Mowley Wood occupies the northern flanks and higher ground above the Arrow valley
which winds it way through a particularly beautiful part of West Herefordshire in this area of
small and medium sized mixed family farms. The wood is visible from the rising countryside
to the north and photo 1 shows a panorama taken from the Titley to Staunton-on-Wye road at
Horseway Head. The Arrow valley at this point becomes secluded between Mowley Wood
and the ancient semi-natural Grove wood on the opposite southern flank, a long strip of
permanent pasture snaking its way adjacent to Mowley Wood’s southern edge along the
fertile sinuous valley bottom through which the Arrow itself winds fringed with Alders with
the occasional old Oak. This is a stunningly beautiful and historic valley but marred by the
intrusion of a recent square plantation of that icon of suburbia, the Horse Chestnut, 20m
from the southern edge of the wood near the remains of the old stone cottage.
RECREATION / PUBLIC ACCESS
There is no right of public access through the wood, although people have traditionally been
able to visit the wood by arrangement with the owner.
WOOD PRODUCTION, GAME / LIVESTOCK & OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
The woodland is managed for timber with coupe falls early 1990’s in the ancient seminatural woodland areas and restocking with conifer/Oak mixture, a wide access ride around
the wood was also created at that time.
The woodland is currently free of intensive game rearing.
Deer are present in the wood in numbers to cause browsing problems with restocking and
localised trampling.
LEADER = Liaison Entre Actions pour le Développement de L’Economie Rurale and is a European Agricultural
Guidance Fund programme and in this county is called the “Herefordshire Rivers Programme” 2002 – 2008.
Mowley Wood NWS
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6
6
FC 2000
WOODLAND SURVEY SHEET
ECOLOGICAL EVALUATION & MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
REF NO.
ECOLOGICAL EVALUATION of the main features of interest (include an assessment of naturalness, representativeness,
size, rarity, fragility, position in an ecological unit, diversity, recorded history, potential value, intrinsic appeal)
Mowley Wood is a medium sized compact ancient woodland, mostly semi-natural, of
considerable historical and ecological interest, there being few examples of comparable size in
the area. Although there has been some estate planting in the late Victorian era most of the
broadleaved stands of the wood retain their ancient semi-natural character.
The wood’s topography and geology gives rise to an inherent variety of vegetation and habitats
types. These include four ponds, springlines and soils from limestone to acid brown earths. The
ponds in wood are rather shaded.
The wood’s location on the flanks of the winding Arrow valley in this little visited part of
Herefordshire produces a fine and intimate historic landscape.
There are links along the river Arrow valley which already has a high proportion of land in agrienvironment agreements along its length and for which resources will be available for the
enhancement and restoration of historical and archaeological feature within and outside the
wood. There is also an Otter interest especially where the river meets the wood in cpt 1 but also
as transit through the wood and association with the ponds of the wood.
Mowley wood has the remains of old dwellings, boundary banks and features within the
adjoining pasture fields. The old railway line is another interesting feature.
To the west and north west the wood borders the fields and hedgerows of Titley Court farm
which has the demonstration farm at the heart of the BEAM project “Balancing Environment
and Agriculture In the Marches”. Elsewhere the wood borders mostly permanent pasture.
Since the conifer stand in the western sector is but a single rotation and remnants of the
vegetation survive there is considerable potential to restore this western compartment to
broadleaved and semi-natural woodland.
Rhododendron and Cherry Laurel are present in low numbers throughout the wood but must be
controlled before they expand. There is an expanding patch of Japanese Knotweed next to the
old Old stone cottage on the southern edge of cpt 5.
Deer are present at levels to cause damage to restocking and locally to ground flora.
Mowley Wood NWS
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DL 2002
ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES & RECOMMENDATIONS (based on conservation objectives and above
evaluation)
 Continue restructuring of the broadleaved canopy to produce a mosaic of areas of staggered
age classes. Favour regeneration when re-stocking but use site-native species and of local
provenance where planting necessary.
 Convert the conifer stands of cpt 12 to broadleaves with a programme of phased premature
felling, starting with the southern and western edges where semi-natural vegetation and the
pond will respond most quickly. Ensure removal of conifer nurses in mixed conifer plantings.
 Retain over mature trees (eg some of the remaining Beech), all boundary Oaks and identify
and retain a scattering of older Oaks to become future veteran trees. Leave some less economic
butts/branch wood as dead wood habitat after felling.
 Consider re-coppicing Hazel where a high stool density and there are opportunities to
heavily thin standards over them (eg cpt 1 and southern part of cpt 5).
 Periodic and staggered cutting back of the scrub edges of the wide rides on a short rotation
will increase the rides habitat value
 Control Rhododendron and Cherry Laurel. Also the Japanese Knotweed by the stone cottage
on the southern boundary of cpt 5.
 Take care that machinery does not damage internal boundary and other historical features.
 Consider bringing adjacent land in same ownership into agri-environment schemes for
ecological and historical restoration. Make use of forthcoming ‘LEADER plus’ archaeological
project to further study and enhance historical features in and around the wood.
 Investigate opportunities for co-operative deer management.
 Take care not to disturb potential otter breeding areas near the river and consider seeking
advice from mammal specialist.
 Consider making ecological monitoring (birds, woodland moths and samples of ground
flora) an element of the management plan and WIG application. It would be especially useful to
monitor the restoration of the conifer cpt 12 and would provide data on the progress of such
conversion useful for demonstrating restoration possibilities for other ancient woodland in a
similar state.
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 10
DL 2002
House & garden
abandoned before WWII
pasture strip field
abandoned during
1930’s
Map 1. Schematic map of main
woodland classes in Mowley Wood
Ancient semi-natural woodland. Mainly Oak, Oak/Ash high
forest
Conifer plantation on ancient woodland site established
1959
Secondary woodland. The N-S strip is the old PresteigneTitley branch line opened in 1875 and closed in 1961.
Separate
ownership
Beech plantation
established between WWI and WWII on
Frasers Coppice (see tithe map)
Confer (NS & RC) and Oak mixture established ~1994.
Former arable, mainly the western conifer compartment 12
planted between WWI and WWII.
Areas of Mowley Wood by type, areas in hectares
Western conifer block
8.16 of which On former arable
Railway line (HNT ownership)
2.01
Pasture strip
East of line compartments 1 - 8
31.46 of which Beech plantation
Total in this ownership
39.62
Mixed conifer/oak
Total Mowley Wood
41.63
Areas of Mowley Wood by stand status
Ancient semi-natural woodland
Ancient woodland site, broadleaved & mixed
Ancient woodland site, conifer
Secondary semi-natural (Railway + pasture strip)
Plantation on former farmland
Total Mowley Wood
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 11
DL 2002
0.87
0.64
0.68
2.90
27.10
3.58
7.29
2.79
0.87
41.63

Map 2. First edition 1” Ordnance Survey map 1830 surveyed ~1820.
 Map 3. Tithe map of Staunton-on-Wye 1838 showing names and land use. Present day
woodland types super-imposed from map 1 previous page. Note identical almost outline to present day
the only loss of woodland being the small ‘Ash Bed’ to the north end of railway line.
A=arable, P=pasture,
M=meadow, Wd=wood,
H&G = House and garden.
Copy of tithe map © G. Gwatkins
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 12
DL 2002

Map 4. First edition 6” Ordnance Survey map 1886. Note conifer symbols in three places,
probably remains of Larch planted in Victorian period – otherwise all broadleaved .
 Map 5. 1938 Land Utilisation Survey of Herefordshire (surveyed in the early 1930’s). Note the
absence of arable in the surrounding farmland and scrub areas south of the river.
Horizontal green lines =
permanent grassland,
mauve lines = orchard,
yellow = heath or scrub.
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 13
DL 2002
RAF 22nd May 1948
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 14
DL 2002
RAF 27th Jan 1959
Mowley Wood NWS
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ADAS 1996
Mowley Wood NWS
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DL 2002
Locations of numbered
photographs in the report. red).
Yellow shadow = W8 NVC
stands, otherwise W10 or
plantations.
Blue = ponds and springlines
A = Aspen stand
R = Rhododendron
C = Cherry Laurel
J = Japanese Knotweed
1
15
17
18
C
13,14
R
16
20
29
A
R
32
12
7
28
10
30
11
8
33
2, 3, 4
40
R
23
R
Mowley Wood NWS
26
25
J
6
27
39
35,37
Page 17
DL 2002
9
24
21
5
38
C 36
R
19
31
22
34
R
R
R
WOODLAND RECORD SHEET
PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD OF NVC TYPES
(ONE PER NVC TYPE)
PHOTO NO. (mark location and direction on map)
5
REF NO.
FC
2000
DATE:
NVC TYPE:
West
East
a
b
c
d
e
f
t
1
 Mowley wood panorama viewed from Horseway Head looking south. (a) NE corner of compartment
7 sloping down from the plateau area (b). Mixed conifer compartments (c), railway cutting (d) with
conifers of compartment 12 behind, (e) broadleaved compartment 4, (f) NW end of the conifer
compartment 12.
2
3
 Mixed conifer/oak plantation compartments 2 and 3 from the Quarry fields looking west and 
north showing the western edge of conifers of compartment 3 and the beginning of the ancient seminatural woodland compartment 5.
4
 East from Quarry
fields showing Wild
Cherry of the stepped
southern edge of cpt
5, down the valley to
the Alders fringing
the Arrow, Grove
Wood beyond.
 NE from River,
southern edge of cpt8
6
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 18
5
Remains of old stone cottage
associated with cottage SW corner of
cpt 6 it and its garden are becoming
secondary woodland. Seems to have
roofed in 1959 see page 27.
DL 2002
7
8
9
10
11
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 19
7. Ash standards over Bluebell in
north part of cpt 5 near the pond by
the hillocky pasture field. This part
of the wood and cpt 4 are in a slight
depression having wetter soils suited
to Ash.
8. One of a number of planted Beech
from late Victorian era, centre of cpt
5.
9. Natural regeneration of Birch and
Oak from ‘Fraser coppice’ within
cpt 7 just west of the WWII Beech
plantation.
10. Unmanaged stool grown Oak on
the acid soils of the central ‘plateau’
area of the wood (early April).
11. Same part of the wood in May.
DL 2002
12. Small glacial
depression
characteric of the
area which forms
a pond straddling
the northern edge
of the wood and
pasture field.
Look East toward
the northern
extension of cpt
5.
12
13
13. All the remains of the house
within Mowley Wood towards
‘Horseway Head’ is the stone plinth
hidden under a Cherry Laurel bush.
This house and garden continued to
be included on all maps from the
1838 Tithe map to the 1930 Land
Utilisation Survey.
14. The above mentioned Cherry
Laurel bush which marks the remain
of the house. The garden can be
traced from the nettle patches and
there is old Ash ‘pleacher’ on the
garden boundary to the NE. The
stands around are Ash and Oak.
14
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 20
DL 2002
15. Typical view of the new
ride system created ~8
years ago which runs in arc
around the wood and
wellvisible in the 1996 air
photo page.
The side are fringed with
mixed semi-natural
regrowth mainly Birch but
also Wild Cherry and
Hazel. This constitutes an
excellent woodland edge
habitat but which could
benefit from a programme
of successive cutting.
16. Western end of a
sinuous pond fringed with
Alder about 100m long
between cpts 5 and 6. An
attractive feature but the
water appears rather black
and lifeless.
The pond margin along the
eastern has been colonised
by Rhododendron. A
glacial morain feature and
similar to a smaller pond
120m to the north near the
northern boundary
15
16
Oak hulk lying in the NE sector
amongst Oak and Ash with
occasional Birch. Hazel under-storey
and ground flora of Yellow
Archangel.
17
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 21
DL 2002
Stand of semi-natural Birch at the southern end of the
‘pasture strip’ secondary woodland in the NE
18
Fenced enclosures to protect groups of young
Oaks within the new wide ride system, cpt 6.
19
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 22
DL 2002
21
20
22
24
23
20. Birch, Oak and some Hazel & Rowan, SW part
of cpt 7
21. Area of Hazel coppice over dense Bluebell, also
Field Maple and Wild Cherry. Near stepped southern
edge of cpt 5.
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 23
22. Boundary bank to left of path, continuation
of internal bank which separates historic
woodland compartments (tithe number 404 –
see map page and 1886 map page).
23. Stone capping of internal boundary at the
corner where the bank turns a right angle to
south.
24. Oak over Hazel central cpt 6 just E of 23..
DL 2002
25
26
27
25. Singled stool Oak on the steep southern slopes of cpt 8 overlooking the river Arrow,
ground flora and under-storey rather sparse, partly due to deer trampling and browsing.
26. Oak stand on the brow of the plateau just above slope – some of fine form.
27. Hazel and Wood Anemone in the old quarry areas of Cpt 1.
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 24
DL 2002
28. Birch regeneration
with scattered Ash and
Oak in cpt 4
28
29. Oak and Ash over dense Bluebell & Yellow
Archangel, in April this is a sea of Wood
Anemone. Birch regeneration above in
background.
29
30. Southern edge of
Birch regeneration of cpt
4 looking east with the
conifer/oak plantation of
cpt 3.
30
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 25
DL 2002
31. Oak being over topped by
conifer nurse in cpt 3. Some
natural regeneration of Oak as
well as planted.
31
32. Rhododendron bush
tumbling down disused
railway line opposite
semi-natural cpt 4.
The line was acquired
by the Herefordshire
Nature Trust in 1976
and is supposed to be
managed as a nature
reserve. In the HNT's
“Guide to Nature
Reserves” the objective
of management is to
“keep parts of the
embankments clear of
trees to form sunny,
sheltered glades
valuable for butterflies”.
33. Despite this intent
and a large Heritage
lottery grant to HNT to
manage their reserves,
this one remains very
shaded, little work
appears to have done for
many years nor does it
appear ever to be visited.
32
33
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 26
DL 2002
34
35
36
37
34. Ancient boundary bank defining
the western edge of the conifer cpt
12. Not semi-natural ground flora on
and around the bank.
35. Hard shield fern Polystichum
aculeatum growing in a species rich
flush on the SW slope of cpt 12.
36 Old Field Maple boundary
‘pleacher’ edge of cpt 12.
37. Part of above flush, Valerian
Valeriana officinalis in foreground
along with Hart’s Tongue and
Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage.
38. Field Maple coppice stool with
Dog’s Mercury in amongst the
conifers near the western edge.
38
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 27
DL 2002
39
40
39. A gap in the canopy south part of cpt 12 showing vigorous if shaded semi-natural regrowth, this
includes Wood Anemone, Bluebell, Scaly Male Fern, Wood Sorrel, Wood Speedwell Ash, Hazel,
Wych Elm and Birch regeneration.
40. Canopy gap in a different, drier part of cpt 12 with a ground flora similar to other semi-natural parts
of Mowley Wood.
The conifers of cpt 12 were established in 1959/1960 on was almost certainly an entirely ancient seminatural part of the wood.
Phased removal of conifers, starting from the south, west and the pond area would result in the
recolonisation of much of the original semi-natural vegetation. Note however that there are also
Rhododendron and Cherry Laurel present scattered around the edges.
Mowley Wood NWS
Page 28
DL 2002
Mowley Wood NWS
There are some interesting archaeological and
historical features around Mowley
wood as manifest in
Page 29
DL 2002
this enlargement of a high resolution scan of the 1959
RAF aerial photograph of the Arrow Valley including