The woodland flora of the Forest of Writtle and surrounding area
have been recorded from some woods; for example, 905 in the Park Ponds Spring/Hockley Shaw/
Writtle Park Wood complex, 609 at Edney Common, 396 in The Mores and 249 in The Grove, all in
1998/99.
Scaly Male-fern Dryopteris affinis: Recorded from Ellis Wood, Hockley Shaw/Wriltle Park Wood,
The Mores, The Grove and South Wood/Writtle Bell hul is probably widespread in very small quantity
in the main woodland complex. The maximum al any one site was six in The Mores in June 2000. All
those found so far appear to belong to ssp. borreri, which is closest in appearance to Male Fern.
Narrow Buckler-fern Dryopteris carthusiana: Very scarce but possibly overlooked. Recorded from
Woodbarns Spring - one in June 1991; Edney Common - two in 1998; Birch Spring - three in 1999;
The Mores - two in July 2000; Barrow Wood - five in 2000/2001; Writtle Belt - 2002. Confined to
damp, deeply shaded sites.
Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata: Widespread and common, occasionally abundant, in all
woodland areas on neutral to acidic soils. Less tolerant of dry conditions than Male Fern but like that
species it is quick to colonise secondary woodland and is frequently found in wet field ditches and
similar sites. Concentrations of note include 8001 in The Grove in 1998/99, 318 in The Mores and 163
on Edney Common, both in 1999,and 120 in Hockley Shaw/Writtle Park Wood in June 2000.
Hard Fern Blechnum spicant: Appears to be confined to single sites in both Stoneymore Wood and
Birch Spring, up to 80 having been counted on a medieval wood-bank adjacent to The Mores in recent
years while 8-10 were found at a similar site in the latter locality' in June 1998. A scarce species in
Essex.
Pinopsida Conifers, Gymnosperms
Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii: This North American conifer was planted in considerable numbers
in Stoneymore Wood, Fryerning Wood, Bell Grove and the Coptfold Hall Woods during the late
Victorian/Edwardian era. A good many of these - plus a few offspring - still remain, some of which
have attained impressive proportions.
European Larch Larix decidua: Planted in considerable numbers in much the same woods and at
around the same time as the Douglas Fir. Rather more survive - it is still common in parts of Stoneymore
- and there is more evidence of natural regeneration. Scattered elsewhere, including two very fine trees
in Little Edney
Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris: Much the same notes apply to this species as to Douglas Fir and European
Larch but relatively few remain. Around ten acres of Fryerning and five acres of College Wood were
clear-felled and replanted with this species in the 1950s. The former was flattened by the hurricane of
October 1987 and has since been replanted with native hardwoods. A common planted tree in non-
woodland sites throughout the area.
Corsican Pine Pinus nigra ssp. laricio: Widely planted in the past in the Coptfold Hall woods, several
mature trees surviving, particularly in Bosmere and King Woods. A common and widespread planted
tree in the area as a whole.
Lawson's Cypress Chamaecyparis lawsoniana: Planted in small quantity in Bosmore Wood; scattered
trees elsewhere, including Horsfrith and Skreens Park Woods, seemingly introduced for ornament.
Yew Taxus baccata: This is the dominant tree in woodland surrounding The Hyde Lake, many individuals
probably dating from when the estate was landscaped in the mid-eighteenth century. There is also a fine
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)