
Limekiln Wood c. Paul Lane
Candlesnuff c. Sue Tatman
Limekiln Wood Autumn c. Sue Tatman
Limekiln Wood
Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Sorry this reserve is closed to the public.Best time to visit
Sorry this reserve is closed to the public.About the reserve
Clinging to the north-west slope of the Mow Cop ridge, Limekiln Wood is one part of a larger wood complex that has cloaked the ridge since the end of the last Ice Age.
The trees reflect the thin soils and exposed location rising above the Cheshire plain: oak, downy birch and rowan predominate, with alder in the wetter patches and dense stands of holly beneath the canopy. There are a number of wet flushes through the wood, and these are home to a particularly rich ground flora. Opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage, marsh marigold, yellow pimpernel, meadowsweet and lesser celandine are all abundant. In drier areas honeysuckle, greater stitchwort, wood sorrel and foxglove add colour.
A visit in the autumn will reveal a variety of fungi with evocative names such as foxy spot, stinkhorn and blushing bracket.