Stoke Wood - Stoke Lyne

Site Description

Stoke Wood lies 6 kilometres to the north west of the expanding town of Bicester. It is signposted from the B4100 along the old Stoke Lyne Lane, which was formerly a C class road and was stopped up during the construction of the M40. This is public bridleway and the management access for the woodland. There is a car park which holds approximately thirty cars.

The land around Stoke Wood is relatively flat and comprises of pasture to the east with arable to the north west and south with relatively little woodland cover making Stoke Wood quite a feature in the landscape visible from all the approach roads, the A43, M40 and the B4100. The northern boundary of the woodland is adjacent to a motorway service station which has some landscape tree planting along its boundary. There are approximately 3.9 kilometres of path in the wood of which 400 metres make up the surfaced element of an access for all paths.

Stoke Wood is an ancient woodland site that has been extensively managed in the past as a hazel (Corylus avellana) coppice with oak standards, producing a structure of even-aged oak (Quercus robur) standards over what is now overmature hazel coppice. This has not been worked for at least 50 years and is beginning to decline. There is ash (Fraximus excelsior) and field maple (Acer campestre) within the woodland structure, the majority of which have been previously coppiced. Bluebells, primroses and orchid species can be seen in the wood along with adders tongue on the edge of the central ride. The National Vegetation Classification for the wood is W8 - W10 lowland, mixed, broadleaved woodland.

Stoke Wood is also a Plantation on an Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS). During the 1950’s, approximately 50% of the area was planted with conifer - broadleaved mixtures that have in most areas been thinned and there is a predominance of European larch (Larix decidua) and Corsican pine (Pinus nigra var. maritima) blocks. In some of these areas there are groups of natural regenerating broadleaves such as sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and ash. Oak regeneration is sparse even beneath the oak canopy. There are several open glades throughout the wood, with a small meadow on the western boundary of the wood. These provide an interesting contrast to the rest of the woodland and important habitats for invertebrates.

Ornamental rides can be seen in the wood running north south and east west. These have been lined with specimen conifers of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Corsican pine.

Other interesting features in the wood are a large standing dead cherry (Prunus avium) and a wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis) on the southern boundary. There is one identified hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) coppice stool in the wood. This is likely to be ancient and has formed an external stump circle of approximately six metres in diameter.

The Hawk and Owl Trust with the help of the local group have put ten Tawny Owl boxes in the wood. This has been successful in drawing in this bird to the wood.

The soil association is Aberford, shallow locally brashey, well drained, calcareous fine loam soils over limestone. Some deeper soils in colluviums.

This woodland is classified as ancient and semi natural. There are wood banks within the woodland which indicate the boundary of the ancient & semi natural woodland and were surveyed by the former warden (see Key Feature description).

The wood was part of the estate of Swift House acquired by Sir Henry Peyton in 1820, and was retained by his family until 1993. The estate was broken up in lots at this time and sold, with the Woodland Trust purchasing Stoke Wood for the sum of £93,444 with the help of local people and Cherwell District Council.

There was a plane crash in 1954, when an American B47 Bomber returning to Upper Heyford, crashed into the wood killing its crew and causing extensive damage to the woodland.

Since the woodland has been purchased by the Woodland Trust, the aims of management have been to restore the whole woodland back to its ancient character by the removal or ring-barking of the conifers. Some of this management work has been carried out by the volunteer group and the rest by forestry contractors.

Stoke Wood has been promoted as a Wild about Woods site and as such has a fully interpretive guided walk and leaflet

The wood is extremely well used and enjoyed by local people for quiet walking and dog exercising. There is an access for all paths leading from the car park into the wood.

Local Friends of Stoke Wood Group is active in managing areas in the woodland and their efforts add value to the aims of the woodland management.

The car park adjacent to the wood is managed in partnership with Cherwell District Council. CDC is responsible for the car park maintenance and for emptying the waste bins.

Stoke Wood was one of fourteen Woodland Trust woodlands chosen as part of the Wild About Woods Campaign when way marked paths and leaflets were created. At this time a video audio cassette and CD Rom were created to enhance people’s enjoyment of the woodland visit.