Fungi

Wimpole Woods was notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in February 2003, which was confirmed in October 2003.  The woodland is known to be a nationally important site, which supports a maternity roost for the very rare Barbestelle bat Barbestella barbastellus. This is just one of six species of bat that have been recorded at this site.  

If you wish to read more about the designation, please open the English Nature Notification Document here (pdf 96KB.)

Further to this Classification it is also under consideration by the government as a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) because it hosts species or habitats of European importance, which will provide them with increased protection and management of the site.

The Forester at Wimpole, along with some long term volunteers has recently been continuing the improvement of  the hedgerows on the estate using traditional hedge laying techniques, using stakes and withers cut from the woodland.   The method would have originally been used for keeping the stock in, but now is ideal for thickening up the base of the hedge and encouraging wildlife in the hedgerows.

Dr Peter Kirby who has identified over 120 Nationally Scarce and 25 Red Data Book (RDB) invertebrate species occurring at Wimpole.

Turned wooden items made from storm felled or otherwise damaged trees from Wimpole and other National Trust Properties are sold in Wimpole Stable Shop.

The Forester leads Bat Talk & Walks and Mammal Talk & Walks during the year, which are listed on the What's On pages.

Saproxylic Beetle Survey 2001
(pdf 758KB)

Wetlands Invertebrate Survey 2000
(pdf 1214KB)

There are 7 endangered species and one of these is the Golden Hoverfly; a very rare species associated with veteran trees and habitat continuity. The range of different RDB invertebrates is excellent, such as a wetland snail and a snail-killing fly (there could be a conflict of interests here!) Over 15 RDB beetles mostly relying on deadwood and fungus associated with deadwood and at least 12 RDB flies, some of these reliant on wetlands and others on deadwood habitats. There are also likely to be some rare bees and wasps too.

The rare hoverfly Callicera spinolae or Golden hoverfly has now definitely been found on Wimpole Estate. Last winter a larvae was taken out of a rot hole in a horse chestnut tree. This was identified as Callicera but it was not until late August that the larvae pupated and hatched. Further survey work in September which looked at ivy, the main nectar source for this fly was undertaken and one female and one male were seen. Subsequent days also revealed more specimens this rare and very elusive hoverfly. The status of Callicera spinolae is RDB1 (endangered), it is also a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species that relies on saproxylic habitats (deadwood) which the Cambridge County Council has taken up in their Habitat Action Plan (HAP) to protect and enhance Parklands and Veteran trees within Cambridgeshire.