Although affected by the planting of introduced trees such as Sweet Chestnut and Beech, Scholes Coppice and Bray Plantation continue to support a wide range of invertebrates, birds and other animals.

Areas of young trees in the centre of Scholes Coppice and in former clearings are of particular value for wildlife. Woodland edges are also important, particularly for invertebrates and birds. Further diversity is added by the wetland area in the northern corner of the site.

INVERTEBRATES
Between them the two woodlands support more than 200 species of invertebrates, these including millipedes, froghoppers, beetles, hoverflies, butterflies and moths.

The richest areas for both plants and animals are often on the woodland edges where there is more light and a greater choice of habitats.

Butterflies found in Scholes Coppice include Purple Hairstreak, a protected species, the caterpillar of which feeds on the young foliage of Oak, Ash and Sweet Chestnut, and for which an uneven-aged woodland structure is ideal. The relatively uncommon Speckled Wood butterfly, which loves dappled sunlight, has recently become a more frequent feature of parts of Scholes Coppice. Other butterflies found in the wood include Comma and Holly Blue. A wide variety of moths has also been recorded including Clouded Silver, Lime Hawk Moth and Purple Thorn.

Other notable invertebrates found in Scholes Coppice include a species of millipede, a false click beetle and a hoverfly.

AMPHIBIANS
Common Frog occurs in association with the two wetland areas in the northern corner of Scholes Coppice.

BIRDS
Since the 1970s, more than 50 bird species have been recorded in Scholes Coppice and Bray Plantation, over half of which breed.

Song Thrush, Linnet and Bullfinch, three birds found in Scholes Coppice, are of particular importance as they are species that have declined sharply in numbers in recent years. All three often nest in bushes on the woodland edge. Of the three species, Bullfinch is the one most associated with woodland where it feeds on seeds, buds and tree flowers close to the woodland edge. In contrast, Song Thrush and Linnet find much of their food in adjacent open areas, such as grassland and gardens. Other birds which breed in the woodlands, but which feed in adjacent habitats such as Keppel's Field, include Carrion Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, and Mistle Thrush.

The mature woodland canopy is particularly important for birds such as Tawny Owl, Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch, Great and Blue Tit, Jay, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Standing and fallen deadwood acts as a food source and nesting place for Greater and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and Treecreeper.

Other bird species recorded include Kestrel and Little Owl; Chaffinch and Greenfinch; Wren, Goldcrest, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Rook, House Sparrow, Magpie, Siskin, Redpoll, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Tree Pipit, Pheasant, Yellowhammer, and Redpoll. The winter visitor, Fieldfare and the summer visitors, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Wood Warbler and Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat have also been seen.

MAMMALS
The site supports two species of bat typical of mature woodland. One of these, Leisler's Bat, is a rare species in South Yorkshire. It is a forest bat which roosts in tree holes, and feeds on insects flying above the woodland canopy. The other bat species, Pipistrelle, though once common, is now also declining in numbers as a result of a reduction in abundance of its insect prey and the loss of winter roosting sites in buildings and old trees.

Other animals recorded in the two woods include Fox, Rabbit, Hedgehog, Weasel, Stoat, Grey Squirrel, Bank Vole and Hare. The last of these is found mainly on agricultural land, and has suffered badly from the intensification of farming, which has converted much of its grassland habitat to arable land. Keppel's Field probably provides a good breeding and feeding habitat for this species and it probably uses the woodlands mainly for shelter rather than for feeding.

MORE INFORMATION

More general information on the birds and animals of the Heritage Woodlands is available elsewhere on this website.