Appendix 2 - Burley Woods SSSI - Rutland County Council

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County: Leicestershire Site name: Burley and Rushpit
Woods
District: Rutland
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section
28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Local Planning Authority: Rutland District Council
National Grid Reference: SK 890097 Area: 161.90 (ha) 400.05 9ac)
Ordnance Survey Sheet 1: 50 000: 141, 130 1: 10 000: SK 80 NE, SK 81 SE,
SK 90 NW, SK 91 SW
Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): Date of Last Revision:
Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1982 Date of Last Revision: -
Other Information:
Reasons for Notification:
Burley and Rushpit Woods is one of the largest continuous areas of ancient semi-natural woodland in
Leicestershire. The woodland structure is unusual for Leicestershire, being high forest containing mature
and over-mature trees and large quantities of dead wood.
Biology:
Burley and Rushpit Woods have developed entirely on Upper Lias Clay. Such woods are restricted to
a small area in the east of the County and, as a result of their geology, have a markedly calcifuge flora.
Despite limited conifer planting within a number of compartments throughout the wood the majority of
the area is still ancient semi-natural woodland. Oak Quercus robur is dominant over large areas giving
way to ash Fraxinus excelsior in the remainder. Hazel Corylus avellana, field maple Acer campestre,
gean Prunus avium and silver birch Betula pendula are all locally common. Small-leaved lime Tilia
cordata, and wild service tree Sorbus torminalis are rare. The ground flora is locally dominated by
bramble Rubus fruticosus, bracken Pteridium aquilinum, dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, yellow
archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and bluebell Endymion non-scriptus. Hairy wood-rush Luzula
pilosa and great wood-rush Luzula sylvatica are both occasional.
Burley Wood is notable for its wide ride system which supports adder's tongue Ophioglossum
vulgatum, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, water avens Geum rivale, sweet vernal-grass
Anthoxanthum odoratum and crested dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus. The lichen flora of the woods
is diverse in the context of the East Midlands and of Regional importance. cont...

Burley and Rushpit Woods (cont...)
The woods have a rich dead-wood invertebrate fauna which includes one Red Data Book species,
Isochnomera cinerascens, and five nationally scarce species Xylota xanthocnema, Nossidium
pillosellum, Ctesias serra, Ericmus brevicornis and Prionychus ater. Together, these saproxylic
species indicate a long continuity of mature timber and dead-wood habitat. The woodland breeding bird
community is one of the richest within Leicestershire as a result of the diversity of habitats present and
the large size of the woods. Additional interest is provided by a number of small ponds and woodland
streams.