Hanger Wood

Hanger Wood is an ancient woodland and Site of Special Scientific Interest in the parish of Stagsden, Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom. Situated approximately one kilometre east of the village of Stagsden, the 24.12 hectares woodland was declared a SSSI in 1988, being described by Natural England as "one of the best remaining examples of wet ash-maple woodland in Bedfordshire".
The name "Hanger" comes from Old English/Anglo-Saxon term for "wood on a hill" or "wooded hill", applied to Hanger Wood due to its situation on a northwest-facing slope of a narrow ridge. Commenting on the wood's character, A. Simco said in 1984 that "It has been strongly influenced by the geology and topography of the area, particularly by the south-west/north-east boulder clay ridge along which the parish boundary runs."
Before the construction of Stagsden Golf Course, which lies directly to the west of the wood, trial excavations uncovered several features that were evidence of a late Iron Age and Romano-British settlement: a ditch-surrounded enclosure was found, along with pits, gullies, a possible hearth, pottery and an animal burial. Cropmarks showing two rectilinear enclosures north-east of Hanger Wood and adjacent to the parish boundary with Kempston Rural could also be seen; these probably had similar Iron Age or Romano-British origin.

More information

Comments Statistics

| | Public | French