Broxbourne wood forms Hertfordshire's only national nature reserve. It is comprised of a series of woodland blocks lying mainly on acid gravel deposits over London Clay. Parts have developed from ancient wood pasture and heaths and retain many large Oak and Hornbeam pollards along the boundaries and parts are coppice-with-standards. More basic conditions arise from prevalence of boulder clays to the north.
This range of geological conditions and the variety of past management regimes has resulted in a varied woodland structure, wide habitat diversity and a correspondingly rich flora. Despite extensive clearance and replanting with conifers the remaining semi-natural woodland is of national importance as an example of lowland south-east Sessile Oak/Hornbeam type with the Pedunculate Oak/Hornbeam variant also present. Scrub areas, small ponds, streams, spring seepages, heathy grassland, bracken patches, rough grassland rides are all habitats present.
The scarce Wild Service Tree can also be found here. The woodland flora is diverse with ancient woodland indicators such as Dogs Mercury, Wood Meadow-grass, Wood Millet, Yellow Archangel with patches of Primroses and Common Cow-wheat Several areas of neutral to acidic unimproved grassland. The wide range of habitats supports a variety of invertebrate species, a good woodland bird community, a diverse range of mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
The woodland is an NNR, SSSI, potential SAC and is a county Wildlife Site. The woods are included in the Ancient Woodland Inventory, Heathland Inventory, Invertebrate Site Register and supports a wide range of protected and scarce species. Species recorded include the Green Tiger Beetle, several local species of butterfly and moth with woodland birds such as Woodpeckers, Woodcock and Hawfinch.
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