Chaddesden Wood is home to a wide spectrum of wildlife and plants.

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TREES

Primarily Pedunculate Oak, with occasional Sycamore, Beech, Hornbeam, frequent Holy and abundant Hazel. Birch, Oak and Sycamore saplings are frequent and there are scattered Hawthorn and Elder. Bramble up to 1 mtr high with patches of creeping soft-grass and bluebell between. Bracken and Rosebay Wilowherb occur locally. In the west Rhododendron forms the main element of a poorer shrub layer with localised snowberry. 

Lime Lane Wood is primarily even aged canopy of mature Oak and Silver Birch.

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BIRDS

A monthly  species list and volumes was compiled by a group member during 2012. A preliminary bird study was undertaken in 2010 and a species report can be found here

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BUTTERFLIES

Whist a detailed survey of the butterfly population in the wood has not been undertaken, some species information is included in the Management Plan. However, the wood does contain the uncommon Purple Hairstreak butterfly, which can be found at the tops of the taller Oak trees during June/July. Other butterflies known to inhabit the wood are the Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Peacock, White and Small Blue.

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BATS

As part of the fulfillment for the degree of Master of Science in Conservation Biology at the University of Derby, one of our members (Vanessa Amaral-Rogers) undertook a study into the Habitat Use of Common Pipistrelle Bats in an Urban Environment during 2011. This used garden, street and field habitats around Chaddesden Wood to survey which confirmed the existence of at least 5 bat species. The species identified using bat detectors were Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, Noctule, Serotine and Myotis sp. The Myotis is notoriously difficult to identify and includes the Acathoes, Bechsteins, Brandts, Daubentons, Greater Mouse, Whiskered and Natterers bat species. The latter two are both defined as existing in the wood in the LNR Management Plan.

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A Bat watch was held in the wood in July 2012 as part of the Wild Derby programme. Using bat detectors loaned from Derby City Council and led by a specialist from the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, the evening identified large numbers of Common Pipistrelle with single Brandts and Whiskered. A new site species in the form of the Brown Long-Eared bat was also identified, bringing the type numbers up to six.

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FUNGI

A Fungus Foray taking in Chaddesden Wood and Oakwood Park was led in October 2011 and identified 26 wood-loving species. A more recent foray in October 2013 nearly doubled the number of species to 51. Key unusual species found were Velvet Shield, Rooting Shank and Yellow Shield; the latter becoming quite frequent in Chaddesden Wood.

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MOTHS

A moth watch was held in the wood in July 2012 as part of the Wild Derby programme. Using mercury vapour lights and materials supplied by the Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Entomological Society (DANES) two sites in the wood collected 42 types of moth and 2 beetles. Further information on the moth and beetle types can be found here.

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