Ancient woodland indicator species are plants that take a long time to colonise new areas. Because they prefer the stable, undisturbed conditions of long-established woods, they can help us tell whether a woodland is truly ancient.
The exact species to look for vary from county to county. Spotting just one doesn’t prove much on its own, but the more indicator species you find, the more likely it is that the woodland has been there for centuries.
Below is the current list of ancient woodland indicator species for Northumberland, which includes flowering plants, grasses, and ferns that are used locally to identify this special habitat. A separate list for County Durham can be found online (here). As a rule of thumb, finding at least 10 species gives a good chance of confirming ancient woodland. The more you find, the stronger the evidence and usually, the healthier the woodland.
At the end of the list, you’ll also see a few extra species. These aren’t on the official list, but I’ve included them because they have a strong connection with ancient woodland in this area.
Herbaceous Plants
- Field Maple Acer campestre
- Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina
- Ramsons Allium ursinum
- Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa
- Lords-and-ladies Arum maculatum
- Giant Bellflower Campanula latifolia
- Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium
- Upland Enchanter’s-nightshade Circaea x intermedia
- Broad-leaved Helleborine Epipactis helleborine
- Spindle Euonymus europaeus
- Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem Gagea lutea
- Woodruff Galium odoratum
- Creeping Lady’s-tresses Goodyera repens
- Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta
- Juniper Juniperus communis
- Toothwort Lathraea squamaria
- Common Cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense
- Dog’s Mercury Mercurialis perennis
- Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
- Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis
- Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella
- Herb-paris Paris quadrifolia
- Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus
- Downy Currant Ribes spicatum
- Sanicle Sanicula europaea
- Wood Stitchwort Stellaria nemorum
- Small-leaved Lime Tilia cordata
- Wood Speedwell Veronica montana
- Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus
- Wood Vetch Ervilia sylvatica
Grasses & Sedges
- False Brome Brachypodium sylvaticum
- Hairy-brome Bromopsis ramosa
- Greater Tussock-sedge Carex paniculata
- Remote Sedge Carex remota
- Wood-sedge Carex sylvatica
- Smooth-stalked Sedge Carex laevigata
- Bearded Couch Elymus caninus
- Giant Fescue Schedonorus giganteus
- Wood Fescue Drymochloa sylvatica
- Wood Barley Hordelymus europaeus
- Hairy Wood-rush Luzula pilosa
- Wood Melick Melica uniflora
- Mountain Melick Melica nutans
- Wood Millet Milium effusum
- Wood Meadow-grass Poa nemoralis
Ferns & Horsetails
- Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum
- Oak Fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
- Beech Fern Phegopteris connectilis
- Hard Shield-fern Polystichum aculeatum
- Soft Shield-fern Polystichum setiferum
Species That Ought to be Included
- Great Wood-rush Luzula sylvatica
- Early-purple Orchid Orchis mascula
- Golden-scaled Male-fern Dryopteris affinis subsp. affinis
- Yellow Pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum
- Barren Strawberry Potentilla sterilis
- Water Avens Geum rivale
- Pignut Conopodium majus
- Bugle Ajuga reptans
- Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium
- Wood Crane’s-bill Geranium sylvaticum
- Wood Club-rush Scirpus sylvaticus
