The woods at Horner are part of a national nature reserve established in 1995.
Horner Wood is nationally important for lichens and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The presence of particular species of lichens in the wood indicate that this wood is of ancient orign.
Horner Wood on Exmoor is one of the most beautiful ancient oak woods in the country.
It clothes the lower slopes of the surrounding moorland and follows the river valley to Horner village. The wood forms part of the Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve and is unenclosed, enabling sheep and wild red deer to roam freely.
Insects and birds abound, such as the silver-washed fritillary butterfly in July and pied flycatcher, wood warbler and redstart from May to August. You may see dippers along the river all year. Horner Wood is of European importance for its lichen flora. Over 330 species occur, including all four species of Lobaaria. They are best seen in winter.
The National Trust’s policy is to leave the evolution of Horner Wood to natural processes as much as possible. Such a policy has to be based on detailed survey and monitoring. Repollarding ancient oaks, footpath and bridleway maintenance are also an important part of this management.
Horner Woods
Horner Woods
Horner Wood is one of the largest ancient oak woodlands in the British Isles, covering 331 hectares (more than 800 acres).
The Wood is rich in archaeological features including an Iron Age enclosure and a deserted settlement thought to date from Anglo-Saxon or medieval times. At least six house sites have been discovered, together with a hollow way or village road.
Several charcoal burning platforms also exist within the Wood, indicating further commerical use in the past.
Many different plants and animals are found in Horner Wood, including mosses, liverworts, ferns, butterflies and birds.
Silver-Washed Fritillary Butterflies breed in the Wood, feeding on violets and the nationally rare Heath Fritillary Butterfly breeds in areas of bracken litter close to the wood.
The wood is grazed by sheep and wild Red Deer. The management in the past has resulted in Oak as the main tree with other species such as Ash confined to the valley bottom.
Much of Horner Wood was once managed for coppice production. The National Trust does not carry out tree planting in this wood, but relies on natural regeneration. Seeds failing in small clearings within the wood will provide the next generation of trees as long as they are protected from grazing animals.
Horner Wood supports more than 200 different species of lichen thriving on the clean and moist air and the good light conditions. These include a number of nationally rare species. All these species confirm the wood's great age. The National Trust's policy of leaving dead wood in situ encourages the growth of fungi. More than 400 different types can be found within the Wood, mainly in the autumn.
Fungi to be found in Horner Wood include Death Cap, Shaggy Ink Cap, Cep and Sulphur Polymore
The open structure of the woodland canopy creates ideal conditions for Pied Flycatchers, Wood Warblers and woodpeckers. The Green Woodpecker often feeds on wood ants, whose large rounded ant hills can be seen scattered throughout the upper slopes of the woodland. The Dipper can be seen feeding in the swiftly flowing Horner Water.
There are many paths throughout the wood to follow and explore the wildlife and history of this ancient woodland. The whole area has been declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the National Trust asks you to help care for this beautiful wood by keeping to the footpaths and not disturbing the plants and animals.
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