Pumphouse Wood
Pumphouse Wood is an isolated block of semi-natural broadleaved woodland surrounded by farmland. It covers approximately 6 acres. The canopy is dominated by ash and oak, with several scattered planted larch. The understorey is species rich and includes elm, hawthorn, elder, holly and rowan. The density and diversity of ground flora varies throughout the wood, but in areas where the canopy is open, nettle, bramble, rosebay willowherb and enchanters nightshade flourish. Elsewhere, stands of broad buckler fern and carpets of bluebell dominate.
Poors Wood
Poors Wood is a semi-natural broadleaved woodland on the steep banks of the River Weaver. The canopy is dominated by ash and sycamore, with frequent beech and English oak. Springs and seepages emerge from within the wood and create damp regions. Hawthorn and holly are present at the shrub layer, and bluebells carpet the woodland floor in spring. An area of willow carr lies on the level ground between the steep woodland and the river. Standing water covers most of this area, and is dominated by crack willow with stands of common reed.
Pickering's Scrape
Patrick's Wood
A small step sloped woodland that is extremely difficult to access and best viewed from the pathway running through Brotherton Park, this wood is part of the much bigger Dibbinsdale woodland that runs from Clatterbridge through to Brotherton Park. Dibbinsdale is an SSSI, notified 1989 , The ground flora during spring is impressive with large blankets of bluebell, wood speedwell and wood anemone. Birds species too are numerous with many nesting and feeding opportunities in these well structured woodlands. Birds include song thrush, chiffchaff and blackcap.
Owley Wood
Owley wood is an ancient, semi-natural woodland on the steep banks of the River Weaver. The canopy is dense and dominated by ash, English oak and sycamore, with occasional sweet chestnut and birch. To the north, species usually associated with an understorey such as hazel and hawthorn are notable due to their excessive height and presence in the canopy. Woodland management has included the selective felling of the non-native sycamore.
New Ferry Butterfly Park
Situated next to Bebington railway station, Wirral, New Ferry Butterfly Park is an oasis of green tranquility in densely populated urban area. Originally abandoned railway sidings, its industrial past has been put to good use as a home for wildlife.
Marbury Reedbed
Sitting within Marbury Country Park, the Trust looks after the 15 acre Marbury reedbed nature reserve on the western banks of Budworth Mere SSSI. Looking out from the bird hide in the country park across the water, or taking the walk to reserve itself, there is a range of habitats to explore.
Limekiln Wood
Clinging to the north-west slope of the Mow Cop ridge, Limekiln Wood is one part of a larger wood complex that has cloaked the ridge since the end of the last Ice Age. The trees reflect the thin soils and exposed location rising above the Cheshire plain: oak, downy birch and rowan predominate, with alder in the wetter patches and dense stands of holly beneath the canopy. There are a number of wet flushes through the wood, and these are home to a particularly rich ground flora.
Knutsford Heath
Intake Wood
This wood is part of the much bigger Dibbinsdale woodland that runs from Clatterbridge through to Brotherton Park. Dibbinsdale is an SSSI, notified 1989 .The woodland lies near to the popular Raby Mere and is separated from Thornton and Foxes Wood by two roadways. As with the other two woods, the ground flora during spring is impressive with large blankets of bluebell, moschatel and wood anemone. Birds species too are numerous with many nesting and feeding opportunities in these well structured woodlands.
