INTRODUCTION
Although the acidity of the soil at Canklow Wood means that the diversity of flowering plants is relatively low, a total of 164 plant species have been recorded from the area in the last 20 to 30 years. This list, which includes mosses, grasses and trees and shrubs as well as flowering plants, includes 40 species which are rare or uncommon in Rotherham and in some cases elsewhere.

TREES
Those parts of the site that are heavily wooded are dominated by two tree species, Sessile Oak and Birch. The former is dominant near to the southern tip of the site
where the trees are significantly older than elsewhere.

Oak and Birch are by far the commonest trees on the site. In this picture, the area to the left of the path is dominated by Oak whilst that to the right is dominated by Birch.

Birch is the major tree species in the younger areas of woodland which have developed following extensive felling during the first part of the twentieth century. In parts of these areas, for example in the top north-eastern corner of the site, Birch and Oak are joined by Sweet Chestnut. Birch and smaller quantities of Oak are continuing to spread into formerly open areas, many of which were grazed until recently.

Towards the edge of the site, Oak and Birch are joined by other trees
including Beech, Wild Cherry and small amounts of Sycamore. In wet,
nutrient-rich areas near to the western edge of the site, can be found Willow
and Aspen, the latter being a relatively rare tree in this part of South Yorkshire.

Information from valuations in 1853 indicates that the woodland species composition was similar to that of the present day, with Oak and Birch being
the dominant species. However, the ratio of Oak to Birch was significantly higher than it is now.

WOODLAND GROUND FLORA
The ground flora in the woodland areas is dominated by grasses, mainly Wavy Hair-grass and Creeping Soft-grass. Bracken also occurs, particularly in areas
of deeper soil.

Twelve plant species that are characteristic of ancient woodland have been recorded at the site, including Slender St John's-wort, Wood Anemone, Dog's Mercury, Yellow Archangel, Guelder Rose, Greater Stitchwort and Bluebell. The last of these only becomes frequent in the mature Oak woodland in the south-east corner of the site.

NON-WOODLAND HABITATS
Although Canklow Wood is the second largest ancient woodland in Rotherham, its more recent history has meant that significant areas of the site are not now wooded. These parts of the site include substantial areas of acid grassland, as well as smaller areas of heath, scrub and wet nutrient-rich ground known as flushes.

Acid grassland areas are dominated by Wavy-hair Grass, Sheep's Fescue and Creeping Soft-grass, together with other acid loving species such as Mat Grass, Bent Grasses and Heath Bedstraw. Associated with this acid grassland are large areas of Bracken and occasional patches of Heather. An acid grassland ground flora also occurs in association with old quarries where it is joined by Bracken, Male Fern, patches of Heather and Rosebay Willow-herb.

On the lower slopes on parts of the western edge of the site, the ground is comparatively wet, probably as a result of underground springs, and here can be found a ground flora of Tufted-hair Grass, Soft Rush, Cotton Grass and mosses typical of wet places, such as Sphagnum.