America Wood

America Wood (grid reference SZ567820) is a 21.4 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the Isle of Wight, notified in 1986. Legend is that It derives its name due to oak trees grown here to build ships in the American War of Independence However, the name Americas Wood appears on Andrews Map of the Island in 1769, 6 years before the outbreak of the War of Independence.

There has been some storm damage in 1987 and 1990 creating lots of open sections in the wood, some of which are now gradually reverting back to woodland. Much of the wood is thought to be part of ancient woodland, however the northern section features a mixture of conifers and broadleaves. Most of the wood today is high oak forest with downy birch. The woodland floor supports large quantities of holly but little else in the way of ground cover. Red squirrels are often reported, together with a badger set.^[1]

References

• English Nature citation sheet for the site (accessed 5 August 2006)

External links

• English Nature (SSSI information)
• Site boundary map at English Nature's "Nature on the Map" website