Plants

Rare Woodland Plants

Although Hobbs was much disturbed by quarrying, the upper edges were never quarried. On the hedge-bank next to the footpath you will see Small Leaved Lime and Wood Anemone flowering in the spring.

It is here that we also find further rare ancient woodland wildflowers such as Wood Sorrel, Primrose, Sweet Woodruff, Greater Butterfly Orchid, Herb Paris and Bluebell. Such species are not found in woods less than 400 years old, and indeed it is likely that this reserve, and the nearby Coleman's and Kiln woods, were wooded from prehistoric times.

In the remote past Small Leaved Lime trees covered much of Britain but it is now quite rare. The seeds rarely set and this prevents it re-establishing after woodland clearance, however, Lime trees are found at Hobbs and form part of this protected reserve.