Knowledge

Hanger Wood

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33: 188:, Hanger Wood provided timber and underwood for Stagsden. Hanger Wood's antiquity is shown by the rich and diverse number of species, an indicator of ancient woodland, and by its sinewy boundaries, especially at the south-western end of the wood. The south-east boundary is of special historical interest, due to its location along the line of a boundary that is ancient and possibly even 143:
term for "wood on a hill" or "wooded hill", applied to Hanger Wood due to its situation on a northwest-facing slope of a narrow ridge. Commenting on the wood's character, A. Simco said in 1984 that "It has been strongly influenced by the geology and topography of the area, particularly by the
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settlement: a ditch-surrounded enclosure was found, along with pits, gullies, a possible hearth, pottery and an animal burial. Cropmarks showing two rectilinear enclosures north-east of Hanger Wood and adjacent to the parish boundary with
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The woodland was cleared to a great extent through the Iron Age and Romano-British periods; before clearance the natural vegetation had been woodland. In medieval times Hanger Wood was managed through a
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having "one of the best remaining examples of wet ash-maple woodland in Bedfordshire", Hanger Wood is an ancient semi-natural woodland that retains characteristics of its
780: 986: 131:. Situated approximately one kilometre east of the village of Stagsden, the 24.12 hectares (59.6 acres) woodland was declared a SSSI in 1988, being described by 436: 98: 686: 404: 219:-with-standards historic management regime; the wood is located on poorly drained soils of boulder clay and was notified as an SSSI in 1988 under the 835: 510: 532: 937: 61: 212: 116: 24: 199:
in 1838, leading to a large re-organization of the previous field boundaries, although some evidence of the old system still persists.
991: 775: 220: 602: 474: 725: 740: 294:) can be found. Supported by the wood's rides, plants of marshy grassland communities are found, such as false fox-sedge ( 163:, which lies directly to the west of the wood, trial excavations uncovered several features that were evidence of a late 642: 679: 672: 715: 770: 745: 278: 135:
as "one of the best remaining examples of wet ash-maple woodland in Bedfordshire". The name "Hanger" comes from
870: 840: 760: 576: 411: 32: 750: 344: 160: 795: 324:). Other plants common only in ancient woodlands that are also found in Hanger Wood include herb paris ( 308: 664: 607: 479: 923: 880: 284: 506: 913: 850: 810: 314: 302: 241: 184:, which persisted till the 19th century. The wood is referred to as early as the year 1200, in the 543: 263: 235: 908: 875: 539: 326: 181: 85: 845: 825: 815: 730: 350: 290: 257: 247: 224: 112: 855: 735: 356: 338: 208: 132: 918: 885: 865: 860: 790: 720: 410:. Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. September 1998. Archived from 332: 269: 173: 168: 128: 55: 970: 903: 800: 755: 320: 296: 229: 176:
could also be seen; these probably had similar Iron Age or Romano-British origin.
830: 805: 785: 699: 189: 145: 124: 48: 820: 185: 140: 136: 895: 707: 952: 939: 196: 603:"ROMAN & IRON AGE SETTLEMENT, West of Hanger Wood [HER 16348]" 164: 120: 267:) are largely restricted to the margins of the wood, whilst blackthorn ( 216: 252: 151:
As of January, 2014, there was no public access to Hanger Wood.
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List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Bedfordshire
439:. Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England 982:
Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 1988
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Bedfordshire
330:, a species uncommon in Bedfordshire), wood millet ( 894: 706: 94: 84: 76: 68: 54: 42: 399: 397: 395: 393: 391: 389: 387: 385: 781:Kings Wood and Glebe Meadows, Houghton Conquest 148:ridge along which the parish boundary runs." 680: 8: 18: 276:The ground flora is dominated by bluebell ( 687: 673: 665: 31: 17: 227:is dominated by mature penduculate oak ( 836:Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills 540:Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership 381: 273:) can be found forming dense thickets. 569:"Iron Age and Romano-British Stagsden" 987:Forests and woodlands of Bedfordshire 7: 696:Sites of Special Scientific Interest 615:from the original on 11 January 2014 513:from the original on 11 January 2014 507:"Bromham and Stagsden Circular Walk" 487:from the original on 11 January 2014 239:) standards, with midland hawthorn ( 806:Maulden Wood and Pennyfather's Hill 213:Site of Special Scientific Interest 203:Site of Special Scientific Interest 117:Site of Special Scientific Interest 25:Site of Special Scientific Interest 288:), whilst in drier areas bramble ( 14: 776:Kings and Bakers Woods and Heaths 533:"Bromham and Stagsden – The walk" 221:Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 475:"HANGER WOOD [HER 7266]" 37:A south-west view of Hanger Wood 1: 741:Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs 645:. 8 July 2010. Archived from 643:Central Bedfordshire Council 195:The parish of Stagsden was 159:Before the construction of 1008: 509:. Bedfordshire: Let's Go. 771:Houghton Regis Marl Lakes 746:Fancott Woods and Meadows 279:Hyacinthoides non-scripta 251:) coppice dominating the 30: 23: 992:Ancient woods in England 119:(SSSI) in the parish of 871:Totternhoe Chalk Quarry 841:Southill Lake and Woods 761:Galley and Warden Hills 577:Bedford Borough Council 318:) and pendulous sedge ( 255:layer. Wayfaring tree ( 751:Felmersham Gravel Pits 635:"Brohman and Stagsden" 405:"Hanger Wood citation" 345:Lamiastrum galeobdolon 144:south-west/north-east 796:Maulden Church Meadow 342:), yellow archangel ( 309:Valeriana officinalis 282:) and dog's mercury ( 924:Totternhoe Stone Pit 881:Wavendon Heath Ponds 437:"Map of Hanger Wood" 285:Mercurialis perennis 245:) as well as hazel ( 161:Stagsden Golf Course 949: /  914:Kensworth Chalk Pit 851:Sundon Chalk Quarry 811:Nares Gladley Marsh 315:Filipendula ulmaria 303:Angelica sylvestris 242:Crataegus laevigata 182:common field system 20: 649:on 11 January 2014 583:on 11 January 2014 573:Community archives 549:on 11 January 2014 473:Simco, A. (1984). 417:on 24 October 2012 354:) and wood sedge ( 264:Euonymus europaeus 236:Fraxinus excelsior 932: 931: 909:Double Arches Pit 876:Totternhoe Knolls 348:), wood anemone ( 327:Paris quadrifolia 106: 105: 999: 964: 963: 961: 960: 959: 954: 953:52.134°N 0.546°W 950: 947: 946: 945: 942: 846:Stevington Marsh 826:Pulloxhill Marsh 816:Odell Great Wood 689: 682: 675: 666: 659: 658: 656: 654: 631: 625: 624: 622: 620: 608:Heritage Gateway 599: 593: 592: 590: 588: 579:. Archived from 565: 559: 558: 556: 554: 548: 542:. Archived from 537: 529: 523: 522: 520: 518: 503: 497: 496: 494: 492: 480:Heritage Gateway 470: 449: 448: 446: 444: 433: 427: 426: 424: 422: 416: 409: 401: 351:Anemone nemorosa 336:), wood melick ( 312:), meadowsweet ( 291:Rubus fruticosus 258:Viburnum lantana 248:Corylus avellana 223:. Hanger Wood's 113:ancient woodland 64: 35: 21: 1007: 1006: 1002: 1001: 1000: 998: 997: 996: 967: 966: 957: 955: 951: 948: 943: 940: 938: 936: 935: 933: 928: 890: 856:Swineshead Wood 736:Dropshort Marsh 702: 693: 663: 662: 652: 650: 633: 632: 628: 618: 616: 601: 600: 596: 586: 584: 567: 566: 562: 552: 550: 546: 535: 531: 530: 526: 516: 514: 505: 504: 500: 490: 488: 472: 471: 452: 442: 440: 435: 434: 430: 420: 418: 414: 407: 403: 402: 383: 378: 366: 357:Carex sylvatica 339:Melica uniflora 261:) and spindle ( 209:Natural England 205: 157: 133:Natural England 60: 38: 12: 11: 5: 1005: 1003: 995: 994: 989: 984: 979: 969: 968: 958:52.134; -0.546 930: 929: 927: 926: 921: 919:Nine Acres Pit 916: 911: 906: 900: 898: 892: 891: 889: 888: 886:Yelden Meadows 883: 878: 873: 868: 866:Tilwick Meadow 863: 861:Tebworth Marsh 858: 853: 848: 843: 838: 833: 828: 823: 818: 813: 808: 803: 798: 793: 791:Marston Thrift 788: 783: 778: 773: 768: 763: 758: 753: 748: 743: 738: 733: 728: 723: 718: 712: 710: 704: 703: 694: 692: 691: 684: 677: 669: 661: 660: 639:Circular walks 626: 594: 560: 524: 498: 450: 428: 380: 379: 377: 374: 373: 372: 365: 362: 333:Milium effusum 270:Prunus spinosa 204: 201: 174:Kempston Rural 169:Romano-British 156: 153: 129:United Kingdom 104: 103: 96: 92: 91: 88: 82: 81: 78: 74: 73: 70: 66: 65: 58: 56:Grid reference 52: 51: 46: 40: 39: 36: 28: 27: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1004: 993: 990: 988: 985: 983: 980: 978: 975: 974: 972: 965: 962: 925: 922: 920: 917: 915: 912: 910: 907: 905: 904:Biddenham Pit 902: 901: 899: 897: 893: 887: 884: 882: 879: 877: 874: 872: 869: 867: 864: 862: 859: 857: 854: 852: 849: 847: 844: 842: 839: 837: 834: 832: 829: 827: 824: 822: 819: 817: 814: 812: 809: 807: 804: 802: 801:Maulden Heath 799: 797: 794: 792: 789: 787: 784: 782: 779: 777: 774: 772: 769: 767: 764: 762: 759: 757: 756:Flitwick Moor 754: 752: 749: 747: 744: 742: 739: 737: 734: 732: 729: 727: 726:Cooper's Hill 724: 722: 719: 717: 714: 713: 711: 709: 705: 701: 697: 690: 685: 683: 678: 676: 671: 670: 667: 648: 644: 640: 636: 630: 627: 614: 610: 609: 604: 598: 595: 582: 578: 574: 570: 564: 561: 545: 541: 534: 528: 525: 512: 508: 502: 499: 486: 482: 481: 476: 469: 467: 465: 463: 461: 459: 457: 455: 451: 438: 432: 429: 413: 406: 400: 398: 396: 394: 392: 390: 388: 386: 382: 375: 371: 368: 367: 363: 361: 359: 358: 353: 352: 347: 346: 341: 340: 335: 334: 329: 328: 323: 322: 321:Carex pendula 317: 316: 311: 310: 306:), valerian ( 305: 304: 300:), angelica ( 299: 298: 297:Carex otrubae 293: 292: 287: 286: 281: 280: 274: 272: 271: 266: 265: 260: 259: 254: 250: 249: 244: 243: 238: 237: 232: 231: 230:Quercus robur 226: 222: 218: 214: 210: 207:Described by 202: 200: 198: 193: 191: 187: 183: 177: 175: 170: 166: 162: 154: 152: 149: 147: 142: 138: 134: 130: 126: 122: 118: 114: 110: 102: 101: 97: 93: 89: 87: 83: 80:24.1 hectares 79: 75: 71: 67: 63: 59: 57: 53: 50: 47: 45: 41: 34: 29: 26: 22: 16: 934: 831:Sandy Warren 786:Knocking Hoe 765: 716:Barton Hills 700:Bedfordshire 651:. Retrieved 647:the original 638: 629: 617:. Retrieved 606: 597: 585:. Retrieved 581:the original 572: 563: 551:. Retrieved 544:the original 527: 515:. Retrieved 501: 489:. Retrieved 478: 441:. Retrieved 431: 419:. Retrieved 412:the original 355: 349: 343: 337: 331: 325: 319: 313: 307: 301: 295: 289: 283: 277: 275: 268: 262: 256: 246: 240: 234: 228: 206: 194: 190:pre-historic 178: 158: 150: 146:boulder clay 125:Bedfordshire 108: 107: 99: 95:Location map 86:Notification 49:Bedfordshire 15: 956: / 821:Potton Wood 766:Hanger Wood 731:Deacon Hill 721:Blow's Down 233:) and ash ( 186:Middle Ages 141:Anglo-Saxon 137:Old English 109:Hanger Wood 19:Hanger Wood 971:Categories 941:52°08′02″N 896:Geological 708:Biological 653:11 January 619:11 January 587:11 January 553:11 January 517:11 January 491:11 January 376:References 72:Biological 944:0°32′46″W 443:27 August 100:Magic Map 613:Archived 511:Archived 485:Archived 364:See also 197:enclosed 165:Iron Age 121:Stagsden 69:Interest 62:SP995494 44:Location 421:10 July 217:coppice 155:History 127:in the 225:canopy 111:is an 547:(PDF) 536:(PDF) 415:(PDF) 408:(PDF) 253:shrub 211:as a 655:2014 621:2014 589:2014 555:2014 519:2014 493:2014 445:2015 423:2016 167:and 115:and 90:1988 77:Area 698:in 360:). 973:: 641:. 637:. 611:. 605:. 575:. 571:. 538:. 483:. 477:. 453:^ 384:^ 192:. 123:, 688:e 681:t 674:v 657:. 623:. 591:. 557:. 521:. 495:. 447:. 425:. 139:/

Index

Site of Special Scientific Interest

Location
Bedfordshire
Grid reference
SP995494
Notification
Magic Map
ancient woodland
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Stagsden
Bedfordshire
United Kingdom
Natural England
Old English
Anglo-Saxon
boulder clay
Stagsden Golf Course
Iron Age
Romano-British
Kempston Rural
common field system
Middle Ages
pre-historic
enclosed
Natural England
Site of Special Scientific Interest
coppice
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
canopy

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