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COLLYWESTON GREAT WOOD AND EASTON HORNSTOCKS SSSI
Collyweston Great Woods and Easton Hornstocks is the largest Northamptonshire remnant of the ancient Purlieu coppices of Rockingham Forest. The underlying rock is Jurassic Lower Lincolnshire Limestone overlain by Upper Estuarine Series Sands and Boulder Clay drift. This has given rise to a range of soils of widely differing drainage and chemistry, which in turn support an outstanding range of semi-natural woodland types. Little of the site has been affected by reafforestation so that a complex mosaic of vegetation occurs, closely correlated with soil characteristics. It is of regional and national importance for its species and community types. Together with the adjacent Bedford Purlieus it is listed as a Grade One key site in 'A Nature Conservation Review' (Cambridge University Press 1977). The main coppice types are variants of Ash-Lime and Oak-Lime woodland with Small-leaved Lime Tilia cordata the dominant component. The latter has a restricted distribution and Lime woodland is therefore nationally uncommon. Of particular interest is the combination of Lime and Sessile Oak Quercus petraea - one of the very few localities in the East Midlands. Wild Service-tree Sorbus torminalis occurs frequently in association and like Lime, is virtually confined to ancient woods. (sites with a continuous history of woodland cover from the Middle Ages or before). The ground flora is extremely rich due to the combination of calcareous and acidic soils. NNR information Species list