Ervey Wood ASSI

Ervey Wood ASSI covers an area of 25.2ha. The valley along which the woodland is located is steep-sided on both the northern and southern slopes. The former exhibits a rocky scarp face to a height of approximately 10m. The valley bottom broadens out at several places along the river to form flat areas of various sizes. The Burntollet River descends from approximately 60m to less than 50m above sea level over 1.25km length of the site. Although not a very marked gradient, a small waterfall is located to the west of the site.

Beech and oak dominated woodland is located throughout Tamnymore Wood and in many parts of Ervey Wood. Mature beech is the main canopy species (approximately 20m in height) with lesser numbers of oak and birch, with ash and sycamore occasionally recorded.

The understorey is mainly comprised of regenerating young beech, oak and birch with occasional to frequent hazel, rowan, ash, holly and sycamore.The ability of beech to cast a very dark shade has caused the ground flora to be rather restricted in its diversity compared to areas under oak canopy. The principal species recorded were bluebell, wood anemone, wood sorrel and lesser celandine. Moss cover is not particularly high with Hylocomium splendens and Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus the main species.