Wainbody Wood
A walk around Wainbody Wood
Go through the wooden gate, then take the path slightly to your left and follow its circular route around the wood. This path was shown on the 1886 survey map. It is brick-based but may still be muddy in places, so be careful!
Planted alongside the roadside is rhododendron ponticum (wild rhododendron) and numerous oaks. The oak can be recognised in winter by the brown buds set alternatively on the twig with a cluster around the tip. On the right you will pass a number of young silver fir which have coarse, flattened needles set in two ranks. The underside of each needle has a silvery-white band of resin which helps reduce water loss. The group of three sweet chestnuts on the left are all over 200 years old, their bark is a notable feature since it becomes grooved in a spiral pattern.
Hazel, holly and elder are common shrubs throughout the wood. Using holly in the home at Christmas comes from the old superstition that by doing so you would be defended from lightning and protect yourself from witchcraft (from the 1640 Theatrum Botanicum).
Appearing in spring are many colourful wildflowers such as bluebells, wood sorrel and greater stitchwort. Wood sorrel is a pretty little herb with delicate white flowers and leaves resembling those of clover. Greater stitchwort has star-like white flowers and narrow lance-like leaves. The name stitchwort dates from the 13th century. It was probably used to cure stitch in the side or any sudden pricking pain.
The woodland undergrowth is dominated by ferns and bramble. Bramble produces white or pink flowers from June to September and then blackberries which ripen in autumn. Bracken is the most common fern, its fresh green fronds appear in mid-April and are present until October when they turn brown and die. Male fern produces leaves (fronds) from an underground rhizome. On the underside of the fronds tiny structures develop containing the spores which will eventually produce new plants. A large plant may produce several hundred spores in a season.
Walking along the bottom path, parallel to the railway embankment, you will pass several young Douglas fir in a line. These can be distinguished from silver fir by the narrow needles which stand out all around the twig giving a feathery appearance, they are also softer to the touch. Just before the path turns away from the embankment, look left to see an excellent silver fir - one of the fastest growing conifers for height and timber volume.
European and hybrid larch are both deciduous conifers. Hybrid larch is the least common and is a cross between European and Japanese larch. They can be told apart by the cones - the hybrid cones are tallest and the scales are curved outwards.
Scots pine has a reddish bark with needles in pairs. The woody cones take two years to mature and release their winged seeds - look out for grey squirrels which eat them.
Flowering during summer are willowherb, red campion, yellow pimpernel, foxgloves and many others. The speckled wood butterfly is a common sight and is on the wing from March to September.
Several sorts of fungi are evident - you may smell stinkhorn long before you see it. The young fruiting bodies appear on the woodland floor as white egg-shaped objects. Then these mature and burst and the stalk grows up bearing a conical cap covered in an olive-green slime, attracting flies which then spread the spores. Despite its unpleasant appearance and smell it was used in the middle ages for the preparation of a love potion.
Woodland paths
In 1994 a 300m path was made that is suitable for wheelchair users. The entrance is off a small cul-de-sac called The Spinney.
There is no official public access to Wainbody Wood South (also known as Tuesday's Wood) because on three sides it is landlocked with the railway line to the north west. It is a designated conservation area.
History
The name 'Wainbody' comes from two words 'Waegn' meaning wain or wagon and 'Boda', an old English personal name - the probable meaning is 'Boda's Wagon'.
This old woodland was originally part of the Stoneleigh Estate owned by Lord Leigh. It was probably managed to produce timber for building, small sticks for a variety of uses (produced by coppicing) and firewood. In 1844 it was split by the Coventry to Leamington railway, cutting off access to the southern half.
The northern half is 30 acres of mixed wood and access is through a wooden gate from the Kenilworth Road.
Woodland Management
This is one of the larger woods in the city measuring 26 hectares (70 acres) and divided by the Coventry - Leamington railway line. It used to be managed to provide timber for the Stoneleigh Estate and to rear pheasants for shooting.
The present management is looking to reintroduce coppicing, together with ride, glade and pond management. The south west boundary of the southern half is fenced to prevent rabbit damage to neighbouring crops.
Coppicing carried out since 1995 can be seen in the south east corner of the wood next to the railway line.
Don't forget the Country Code
- Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work.
- Guard against all risk of fire.
- Fasten all gates.
- Keep dogs under control.
- Keep to public paths across farmland.
- Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and walls.
- Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone.
- Take your litter home.
- Help to keep all water clean.
- Protect wildlife, plants and trees.
- Make no unnecessary noise.
Horse riding is not allowed in any of these woodlands.