Brampton Wood

Brampton Wood is a 132.1-hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Brampton in Cambridgeshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. The wood has areas of plantation forestry with Scots pine, Corsican pine and Norway spruce. These were planted in rows in the 1950s by the Forestry Commission for the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry sold the wood in 1992 and a public appeal allowed the Wildlife Trust to buy it. The wood is managed for wildlife conservation with coppicing to encourage growth. Young stems are protected from muntjac deer by fencing or brushwood covers. The Wildlife Trust also considers reintroducing the medieval practice of pollarding. The wood supports about 280 plant species including dog’s mercury, bluebell, primrose and violets. Three wild service trees grow here, once used to flavour beer. Brampton Wood hosts thriving colonies of black hairstreaks, one of Britain’s rarest butterflies. Careful management of the rides helps the population survive. Brown argus, white admiral and purple hairstreak butterflies can also be spotted. The hazel dormouse was reintroduced in 1992 and lives at low densities across the wood. It thrives on hazel, bramble and a variety of flowers.