Apes Grove Wood

Size: 5.93 h

Grid Reference: TQ 47584 96977

Local Wildlife Site:  EP96

Owners: Essex County Council

Access: There is open public access around a circular route within the wood.

 Site Description: Apes Grove is known locally as "Bluebell Wood" and is a wonderful semi natural ancient woodland. It lies to the west of Abridge Village and is accessed via a public footpath from New Farm Drive, Abridge. The wood is bounded by an impressive ditch and bank which encloses a woodland stand of mainly hornbeam coppice, with occasional oak and ash standards. It has a sparse ground flora due to the heavy shade created by a largely closed canopy. Despite this a spectacluar carpet of bluebells still dominate in springtime along with dogs mercury and the occasional primrose. The wood lacks any established rides with access via an informal single circular route.

There are a number of notable veteran trees within the wood including a number of large hornbeam and ash coppice stools. The stand out trees are a wonderful large wild service tree and an ancient field maple pollard. 

Volunteer Days

• Essex County Council Team Day - July 2010
• Ape's Grove Boardwalk

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