Hanger Wood
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| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 A south-west view of Hanger Wood | |
| Location | Bedfordshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | SP995494 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 24.1 hectares |
| Notification | 1988 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Hanger Wood is an ancient woodland and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the parish of Stagsden, Bedfordshire, in the United Kingdom. Situated approximately 2⁄3 mile (1.1 km) east of the village of Stagsden, the 24.12 hectares (59.6 acres) 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".[1][2] The name "Hanger" comes from Old English/Anglo-Saxon term for "wood on a hill" or "wooded hill",[3][4] applied to Hanger Wood due to its situation on a northwest-facing slope of a narrow ridge.[1] 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."[3]
As of January 2014, there was no public access to Hanger Wood.[5]
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.[6][7] 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.
The woodland was cleared to a great extent through the Iron Age and Romano-British periods; before clearance the natural vegetation had been woodland.[3] In medieval times Hanger Wood was managed through a common field system, which persisted till the 19th century.[3] The wood is referred to as early as the year 1200,[8] in the Middle Ages, Hanger Wood provided timber and underwood for Stagsden.[3] Hanger Wood's antiquity is shown by the rich and diverse number of species, an indicator of ancient woodland, and by its sinewy boundaries, especially at the south-western end of the wood.[3] The south-east boundary is of special historical interest, due to its location along the line of a boundary that is ancient and possibly even pre-historic.[3]
The parish of Stagsden was enclosed in 1838, leading to a large re-organisation of the previous field boundaries, although some evidence of the old system still persists.[3]