Doncaster Naturalists’ Society preliminary survey of
Thorne Community Woodland (formerly Bunting’s Wood)
(SE6813) 6 September 2025

Species recorded at Thorne Community Woodland (areas 4 and 6) 6th September 2025
Scientific name Vernacular name  Location
Trees, Shrubs & woody climbers    
Acer campestre Field Maple  
Alnus glutinosa Common Alder  
Betula pendula Silver Birch  
Corylus avellana Hazel  
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Common boundary species. Large specimens near Crayholes Pond are survivals from before the planting of the Community Woodland.
Fraxinus excelsior Ash Some large coppiced specimens which pre-date the community wood. Some young planted specimens suffering from or already succumbed to the fungal Ash die-back disease Hymenoscyphus fraxineus.
Hedera helix Ivy  
Juglans regia Walnut  
Malus x domestica Apple  
Populus tremula Aspen  
Populus x canescens Grey Poplar  
Prunus avium Wild Cherry  
Prunus padus Bird Cherry  
Prunus spinosa Blackthorn  
Quercus petraea Sessile Oak  
Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak  
Rosa canina Dog Rose  
Rosa molle agg. Downy Rose  
Rubus fruticosus agg Bramble  
Salix alba White Willow Some large specimens on southern boundary probably pre-date the community wood.
Sambucus nigra Elder  
Sorbus aucuparia Rowan  
Tilia x europaea Lime  
Ulmus procera English Elm Young shrubs suckering from rootstocks of deceased Dutch Elm disease trees along canal embankment.
     
Herbs    
Achillea millefolium Yarrow  
Arctium lappa Greater Burdock Large populations of this locally scarce species mainly adjacent to canal embankment.
Arrhenatherum elatius False Oat-grass  
Asplenium ruta-muraria Wall Rue 10 plants growing out of east-facing engineering brick buttress of railway bridge.
Asplenium scolopendrium Hart’s-tongue Fern 1 plant growing out of west-facing engineering brick buttress of railway bridge.
Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed  
Chamaenerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb  
Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle  
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle  
Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot Grass  
Dryopteris filix-mas Male Fern  
Epilobium hirsutum Hairy Willow-herb By ponds and wet ditches
Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet In  southern boundary Drain
Gallium aparine Cleavers  
Geum urbanum Wood Avens  
Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy  
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed  
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog  
Holcus mollis Creeping Soft-grass  
Humulus lupulus Hop Colony of this vigorous climber on the Canal embankment
Iris pseudacorus Yellow Flag Iris In Perch’s Pond
Lamium album White Dead-nettle  
Lemna minuta Least Duckweed In all still water bodies
Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-eye Daisy  
Lolium perenne Perennial Ryegrass  
Lycopus europaeus Gypsywort In Perch’s Pond
Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife In southern boundary Drain
Plantago major Broad-leaved Plantain  
Polygonum aviculare Knotgrass  
Prunella vulgaris Self-heal  
Prunus spinosa Blackthorn  
Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup  
Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup  
Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock  
Rumex obtusifolius Common Sorrel  
Solidago canadensis Canadian Golden Rod By Perch’s Pond
Sparganium erectum Branched Burr-reed In southern boundary Drain
Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort  
Taraxacom officinale agg Dandelion  
Trifolium repens White clover  
Typha latifolia Reedmace In Perch’s & Crayholes Ponds
Urtica dioica Stinging Nettle  
Vicia sepium Bush Vetch By railway bridge
     
Hemiptera (Bugs)     
Pentatoma rufipes Red-legged Shield Bug  Killed by a fungus
     
Hymenoptera (Bees & Wasps)    
Euura oligospilua Willow Sawfly (evidence of defoliation) Salix sp. with foliage stripped off one branch.
Bombus pascuorum Carder Bumblebee Nectaring on Creeping Thistle
See also gall-wasp and sawfly  Plant Gall causers.    
     
Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies)    
Acrocercops  brongniadella Oak Cloud micro-moth Formerly very local in southern counties. In recent years it has spread north. The first Yorkshire records (1999) were raised from Oak leaves on Potteric Carr.
Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave A Geometridae moth
Pararge aegeria Speckled Wood Butterfly  
Pieris rapae Small White Butterfly  
Stigmella misrotheriella Nut Tree Dot micro-moth Leaf miner on Hazel leaves
Scopula immutata Lesser Cream Wave  
     
Mecoptera (Scorpion Flies)    
Panorpa germanica  Scorpion Fly  
     
Neuroptera (Lacewings)    
Chrysopterla carnea Green Lacewing  
     
Diptera (Flies)    
Episyrphus balteatus Marmalade Hoverfly  
Syrphus ribesii  A Common Banded Hoverfly  
Tipula oleracea A Cranefly   
Melangyna umbellatrum Hoverfly  
See also Tephritidae fly Plant Gall causers.    
     
Coleoptera (Beetles)    
Agelastica alni Alder Leaf Beetle On Alder by Perch’s Pond
     
Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies    
Aeshna mixta Migrant Hawker Hunting along embankment adjacent to canal.
     
Arachnida (Spiders etc.)    
Phalangium opilio A Harvest spider  
Araneus diadematus Garden Spider  
Pissura mirabilis Nursery Web Spider  
Pardosa monticola Wolf Spider  
Opilio canestrinii  Harvestman male & female found
See also mite Plant Gall causers.    
     
Isopoda (Woodlice)    
Procellio scaber Common Rough Woodlouse On damp log.
     
Mollusca (Slugs & Snails)    
Cepaea nemoralis Brown-lipped Snail Several on and around a young ash tree
     
Plant Galls (a preliminary list)    
Aceria nalepai (now Eriophyes inangulis) Gall mite on Alder leaves On alder by Perch’s Pond
Aceria erinea Walnut Blister (gall mite) on Walnut leaves  
Aculus tetranothrix Mite gall on White Willow leaves  
Andricus fecundatrix Artichoke Gall (gall wasp) on Pedunculate Gall  
Andricus quercuscalicic Knopper Gall (gall wasp) on Pedunculate Oak  
Blennocampa phyllocolpa Rose leaf-rolling Sawfly gall  
Cynips quercusfolii Cherry Gall (gall wasp) on Pedunculate Oak  
Neuroterus anthracinus Oyster Gall (gall wasp) on Pedunculate Oak  
Neuroterus numismalis Silk Button Gall (gall wasp) on Pedunculate Oak  
Phyllocoptes populi Gall mite on Aspen  
Urophora cardui Thistle Gall Fly (a Tephritidae picture-wing fly). Both galls and very attractive-looking adult flies seen.
     
Mammals    
Sciurus carolinensis Grey Squirrel Feeding on Walnuts
Talpa europaeus Mole Mole Hills mainly on ste perimeter.
     
Birds    
Columba palumbus Wood Pigeon  
Erithacus rubecule Robin  
Galinula chloropus Moorhen  
Parus major Great Tit