Cambridgeshire has only 3.3% woodland cover and only 0.69% ancient woodland as a percentage of total land area 
The woodlands that do survive are small and largely isolated from one another meaning that many woodland specialist species are effectively marooned on 'islands' in a sea of agricultural landscapes
Nonetheless, species in these woodlands - like these oxlips (Primula elatior) - can be surprisingly persistent, hanging on for centuries in small fragments on ancientness
Most ancient woods are now confined to the boulder clay soils of the south east and west corners of the county. However, the boulders in the clay 👇 are pretty rarely seen in my experience
Some of these woodlands are amongst the most intensively studied in the world, including Hayley Wood - made famous by the late Oliver Rackham - and Madingley Wood, long researched by Cambridge University students and dons
Compared with the super wet west coast woodlands, Cambridgeshire woodlands are relatively dry and thus the lower plant diversity is less impressive
But there are still many species characteristic of sites of high ecological quality and antiquity - such as Anomodon viticulous, here growing on an old ash coppice stool
Or the Atrichum undulatum - known sometimes by the common name Catherine's moss
Some of the more unusual ancient (and beautiful) woodland mosses and liverworts grow as epiphyes on the bark of trees and shrubs
Here is Cryphea heteromalla with its very characteristic secondary stems projecting stiffly away from the bark of the tree
The liverwort-like moss Homalia trichomanoides which often grows on the shader, damper parts of coppice stools
Not to be confused with the superficially similar Neckera complanata (which sometimes grows just above it)
Further up the tree there are many species to be found that form small 'cushions' such as the twisty-when-dry Ulota bruchii
Dicranoweissia cirrata or common pincushion (here on deadwood)
The delicate liverwort Radula complanata
Metzgeria furcata - the commonest thallose liverwort on trees
And Frullania dilatata which is usually red or red tinged
Those three preceding liverworts were all photographed from the same tree deep inside an ancient woodland. All these species and other liverworts have benefitted from reductions in atmospheric pollution in recent decades and are making a good comeback
The rather lovely epiphyte Orthotrichum pulchellum is another species which has increased in abundance in eastern Britain. It holds its capsules clear of the leaves unlike the commoner O. affine
If you're not into grappling with lower plants then there is of course other reasons for visiting your local ancient woodland. Bluebell season is but weeks away!
But... if you are up for the challenge, more info on all things moss and liverwort can be found on @BBSbryology website including a link to their excellent field guide. @MichaelLueth2 @NimbosaEcology @NatureBureau and many others too numerous to mention are also must follows
And finally, if you are tempted to go hunting for some of these gorgeous species do watch out for black holes 🕳 😉 #naturetherapy
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