Garnetts Wood and Barnston Lays
Notification 1985 | | |
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Garnetts Wood and Barnston Lays is a 25 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest two miles south of Great Dunmow in Essex. It is owned and managed by Essex County Council "for quiet public recreation".[1][2]
The site is coppiced woodland, mostly ancient, on glacial silt, sands, gravels and clay soils. It contains some of the best lime woodland, which was once widespread but now rare, in the county. The ground flora are mainly brambles and
There is access from Bishop's Green.[2]
The wood gets its name from the knight Geffrey Garnett who was given the wood in the 12th century by King Henry II. A statue was carved in its place. A plaque under the statue (since removed) read:
"Over 800 years ago Geffrey Garnet owned and walked these woods. They were given to him in 1165 as a knights fee a gift of land big enough to support a knight. Then in the service of King Henry II. The same trees that grew then are growing today and still yielding a coppiced wood crop. Now Garnetts Wood belongs to you. Welcome to your woodland."[3]
References
- ^ a b "Garnetts Wood and Barnston Lays citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Map of Garnetts Wood and Barnston Lays". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ "Garnetts Wood". Friends of the Flitch Way. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
