Ausewell is a valuable wildlife site, a Site of Specific Scientific Interest, a lost world where key species such as redstarts, lesser spotted woodpeckers, pied flycatcher and the elusive hazel dormouse have taken refuge from human activity. The site is also rich in history with two cairns listed as Scheduled Monuments, important stone circles, old mine workings including a copper mine near the river and on old hematite ore mine representing the site of the earliest blast furnace in the UK.
The National Trust were able to secure the purchase from generous gifts in Wills whilst the Woodland Trust were fortunate to have a supportive foundation take on ownership on their behalf for a limited period. The Woodland Trust needed to raise £1 million to take over ownership ansd launched a fundraising appeal to achieve this. The charities together continue to fundraise to ensure the long-term survival of the endangered plants and animals found here.
Animals
This special wood is home to a number of unusual animals that thrive in its rainforest conditions. Barbastelle bats and pied flycatchers hunt flying insects here, and the moisture is perfect for molluscs like the ash-black slug – the largest slug species in the world! The huge nests of southern red woods ants can also be found.
