Wide ride at Whitecross Green Wood (photo © Linda Murphy)
Whitecross Green Wood is a BBOWT reserve on the Bucks/Oxon Border. It is classed as an ancient woodland as it has been wooded since before 1600. During the 1960s, the owner felled a proportion of the trees and planted conifers. In the 1970s the wood was acquired by BBOWT, who have been gradually removing conifers and managing the wood to support the populations of Black and Brown Hairstreak. Whitecross Green Wood is a remnant of the Royal Hunting Forest of Bernwood, along with other woodlands in the area such as Rushbeds Wood, which were encompassed by the Bernwood Project set up about 10 years ago and now forms part of the landscape scale programme ‘Reconnecting Bernwood, Otmoor and the Ray’ (see: https://www.bbowt.org.uk/rbor)
Three of us set off on our walk around the wood. The afternoon was somewhat overcast with a strong, gusty wind, but mild and very warm during the sunny intervals. The oak trees (ladened with acorns) provided good shelter during one or two brief showers! Although conifers are very much in evidence in some parts of the wood, we noted a mix of other species such as willow, aspen, silver birch, blackthorn (in abundance), and field maple, along with ash trees showing signs of ash dieback. In fact, as a result, one area at the top end of the wood has been closed by BBOWT due to fears for public safety.
We followed a circular route around the wood, following wide rides, turning left at the first intersection, then continuing straight on until we reached the green lane beyond the second intersection. Turning right along the green lane, we then turned right again and returned along the boundary path to the ride which leads back to the car park. The rides are managed like hay meadows with a cut taken off after mid-July (apart from some paths for visitors cut in the late spring). On the way round we talked about how the wood is being managed and the types of work done through the winter.
There were carpets of Black Knapweed and Betony, plenty of Meadow Vetchling and Birdsfoot Trefoil along main rides, interspersed with Common Spotted Orchids all nestled in tall grasses of a variety of species such as Wood Small-reed, Yorkshire Fog and Sweet Vernal Grass. Although not yet obvious, Devil’s Bit Scabious grows along some ride edges. The vegetation was felt to be still relatively green compared with many places, perhaps due to the fact that it is normally an extremely wet wood during the winter. Ditches are now dry but held plenty of Pond Sedge and we also found a very lush, tall stand of Common Centaury, quite a contrast to the tiny specimens found at Stonepit Field!
Common Centaury 5.07.25 (photo © Linda Murphy)
Birds were pretty quiet, which isn’t surprising at this time of year. We noted Red Kite, Chiffchaff and Blackcap during the afternoon, plus plenty of Chaffinch and other contact calls. Ravens have taken to breeding in the conifers on one edge of the wood, but none were in evidence during our visit. However, we have to admit to looking down rather than up most of the time!
Brown Argus (Photo © Julian Lambley)
Common Blue on Birdsfoot Trefoil (Photo © Julian Lambley)
Despite the wind and cloud, there were plenty of butterflies and dragonflies on the wing and we realised that the dragonflies were actually hunting the butterflies. We were admiring the Marbled Whites fluttering by when one was grabbed by an Emperor dragonfly. We found it in the grass and watched before it flew off leaving the butterfly wings behind!
Emperor Dragonfly dining on Marbled White (Photo © Julian Lambley)
We then noticed other dragonflies obviously going after butterflies. Apart from the Marbled Whites we were very pleased to find a Silver-washed Fritillary sunning itself on the path, Common Blue and Brown Argus among the multitude of Ringlets and Meadow Browns and a Small Copper among the clouds of Skippers just as we arrived back at the car park!
You can see a full list of the species identified here: MKNHS Visit to Whitecross Green Wood_species list- 05.07.25.
Linda Murphy
July 2025