Hob Hey Wood is a haven for wildlife of all kinds and contains much to delight human visitors all year round.

Two species of rare butterfly occur here. The purple hairstreak lives on oaks and is rarely seen due to its habit of staying at the tops of the trees. The even rarer white-letter hairstreak lives on elm. Its population was reduced by 90% due to the Dutch elm disease epidemic in the 1970s.

A rare bat lives here, too. The Nathusius' pipistrelle is one of the rarest bats in Britain, yet chooses Hob Hey as its home. At least six other species of bat live here as well as many other mammals such as foxes and badgers. There has even been signs of deer…

Wildflowers

Spring is the time of new birth in the wood. After the winter, shoots of wildflowers turn the woodland floor a vivid green. As the days lengthen, wildflowers appear, ancient woodland indicators, putting on a spectacle that is getting rarer each year.

The first flowers to appear are the lesser celandine, carpeting the woodland floor with blooms of butter-yellow, reflecting the sunlight filtering through the still-bare trees. Clumps of wood sorrel and wood anemone give a dazzling white contrast to the celandine's yellow.

These early blooms, beautiful though they are, are merely a taster for the spectacle to come.

Late April sees Hob Hey's two star species flowering across the wood. Sapphire carpets of bluebells delight the eyes (and are an important early nectar source for bees). Britain contains 50% of the world's bluebell woods meaning that most people don't get to see this beautiful view; we're lucky enough to live next to such a wood.

Almost as spectacular is the wild garlic. These beautiful flowers fill the wetter areas, covering the banks of the stream where the bluebells won't grow; a wonderful delight for the eyes. And the nose! The scent of garlic fills the area whilst in flower; an unforgettable, pungent aroma.

Hob Hey's Birdlife

At this time of year, the air is filled with birdsong. Hob Hey supports many resident and migratory species and, as breeding season arrives, they burst into song.

A very early visit to hear the dawn chorus is an unforgettable experience.

At first there's nothing. Then the 'early birds' start singing: robins and blackbirds, their tunes piercing the silence.

Gradually, as the light increases, other birds join in. Song thrushes, great, blue and coal tits, dunnocks and wrens all start singing their hearts out.

In a matter of minutes, the air is filled with many, many different songs and it's so loud! As sunrise eventually arrives, the birds disperse to go about their day, leaving the wood comparatively quiet, giving the visitor a memory of an ancient woodland symphony that they will remember for a long time.

Many species of bird breed in the wood. Some are very secretive; wrens, chaffinches, and treecreepers all seem to hide their nests from observers.

The birds that nest in tree holes, however, can be very obvious. It is common to spot a nuthatch or great spotted woodpecker exiting a hole in a tree. Observation from a distance can show the adults bring food back for the chicks; a really lovely sight to see.

In 2020 a pair of sparrowhawks raised four chicks here, watched by lots of fascinated humans. Seeing the chicks flexing their wings, juvenile down gradually being replaced by mature feathers, was a delight to see.

Hob Hey's Autumn Fungi

In autumn, ancient woodland is one of the best places to see fungi and Hob Hey Wood does not disappoint.

Fungi come in all shapes and forms, with some really weird names and even stranger habits. Take the stinkhorn. The mushroom has a tube-like body with a head coated in a foul-smelling substance.

Flies are attracted to the smell and spread the fungal spores. This mushroom so offended Victorian sensibilities that often, young men would scour the woods, smashing the fungi, to avoid young ladies encountering these strange structures!

Hob Hey holds species such as 'candlesnuff fungus', 'dead man's fingers', 'king Alfred's cakes', 'beefsteak fungus', 'frosty bonnet', and other equally weird species. An autumn 'fungal foray' is always worth a try.

Winter in the Wood

Winter is the best time of year to see the birds that spend just the cold months in Britain.

Fieldfares feed on the fields surrounding the wood and roost in its trees. Redwings occur in small flocks, feeding on the fruits of the forest such as hawthorn and ivy berries. With the lack of foliage, getting good views of the birds is much easier than in summer.

At the end of winter, everything looks bleak and grey but a careful look shows green shoots erupting everywhere on the woodland floor. These are the first signs that spring is on the way and the whole cycle of life in the woodland is going to repeat again.

The wood is rich with flora and fauna, but this will only survive with our help and protection.

Frodsham Town Council own the wood and have helped set up a group dedicated to looking after Frodsham's ancient woodland: Hob Hey Wood Friends Group. We want to make sure that future generations have the opportunity to enjoy the woodland as we do now.

If you'd like to get involved, and learn more about the wood, why not come along to our volunteer days by contacting us via Facebook or email: [email protected]

If you want more information on the wood, there's plenty on the group's website:

Click here for Mark's article on the history of Hob Hey Wood.