Cogley Wood
Encyclopedia
Cogley Wood is a 60.7 hectare
biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Bruton
in Somerset
, notified in 1987.
The name is believed to be from Cock ley meaning a clearing with birds.
The wood is situated on the eastern slopes of the upper reaches of the Brue
valley, with several of its tributaries having their sources in the wood which is made up of two extensive areas of species-rich, semi-natural ancient woodland with an
exceptionally rich butterfly fauna. The tress include Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Pedunculate Oak
(Quercus robur), Wych Elm
(Ulmus glabra) and Wild Cherry (Prunus avium). Beneath them are Dog's Mercury
(Mercurialis perennis) and Common Bluebell
(Hyacinthoides non-scripta). Other plants of interest include Greater Butterfly-orchid (Platanthera chlorantha) and Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale).
36 species of resident breeding butterfly have been recorded including Marsh Fritillary
(Euphydryas aurinia), High Brown Fritillary
(Argynnis cydippe), Brown Hairstreak
(Thecla betulae), Duke of Burgundy
(Hamearis lucina) and Purple Emperor (Apatura iris).
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Bruton
Bruton
Bruton is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Brue seven miles south-east of Shepton Mallet, just south of Snakelake Hill and Coombe Hill, ten miles north-west of Gillingham and twelve miles south-west of Frome in the South Somerset district. The town has a...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, notified in 1987.
The name is believed to be from Cock ley meaning a clearing with birds.
The wood is situated on the eastern slopes of the upper reaches of the Brue
River Brue
The River Brue originates in the parish of Brewham in Somerset, England, and reaches the sea some 50 km west at Burnham-on-Sea. It originally took a different route from Glastonbury to the sea, but this was changed by the monastery in the twelfth century....
valley, with several of its tributaries having their sources in the wood which is made up of two extensive areas of species-rich, semi-natural ancient woodland with an
exceptionally rich butterfly fauna. The tress include Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Pedunculate Oak
Pedunculate Oak
Quercus robur is commonly known as the Pedunculate Oak or English oak. It is native to most of Europe, and to Anatolia to the Caucasus, and also to parts of North Africa.-Taxonomy:Q...
(Quercus robur), Wych Elm
Wych Elm
Ulmus glabra, the Wych elm or Scots elm, has the widest range of the European elm species, from Ireland eastwards to the Urals, and from the Arctic Circle south to the mountains of the Peloponnese in Greece; it is also found in Iran...
(Ulmus glabra) and Wild Cherry (Prunus avium). Beneath them are Dog's Mercury
Dog's Mercury
Mercurialis perennis, commonly known as dog's mercury, is a woodland plant found in much of Europe, but almost absent from Ireland, Orkney and Shetland. A member of the spurge family , it is a herbaceous, downy perennial with erect stems bearing simple, serrate leaves. The dioecious inflorescences...
(Mercurialis perennis) and Common Bluebell
Common Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, commonly known as the common bluebell, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial plant. -Taxonomy:...
(Hyacinthoides non-scripta). Other plants of interest include Greater Butterfly-orchid (Platanthera chlorantha) and Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale).
36 species of resident breeding butterfly have been recorded including Marsh Fritillary
Marsh Fritillary
The Marsh Fritillary, Euphydryas aurinia, is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.It is widespread in the Palaearctic region from Ireland in the West to Yakutia in the East, and to North-west China and Mongolia in the South.E. aurinia is represented by many subspecies.The most widely accepted...
(Euphydryas aurinia), High Brown Fritillary
High Brown Fritillary
The High Brown Fritillary is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family, native from Europe across mainland Asia to Japan.The adults fly in July/August and lay eggs near to the larval food plants which are species of violets,...
(Argynnis cydippe), Brown Hairstreak
Brown Hairstreak
The Brown Hairstreak is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. The range includes most of the Palaearctic.-Subspecies:...
(Thecla betulae), Duke of Burgundy
Hamearis lucina
Hamearis lucina, known as the Duke of Burgundy, is a European butterfly in the family Riodinidae. For many years, it was known as the "Duke of Burgundy Fritillary", because of the adult's similar markings to "true" fritillaries of the family Nymphalidae.-Description:The male has a wingspan of , and...
(Hamearis lucina) and Purple Emperor (Apatura iris).
External links
- English Nature website (SSSI information)