| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 | |
| Location | Greater London |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | TQ055863 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 6.3 hectares (16 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Denham Lock Wood is a 6.3-hectare (16-acre) biologicalSite of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) next to theGrand Union Canal, and nearDenham in theLondon Borough of Hillingdon. It was notified in 1986 and is managed by theLondon Wildlife Trust on behalf of Hillingdon Council. It lies within theColne Valley Regional Park.[1][2][3]
It is a wet woodland and fen site which is skirted by theFrays River. The main trees arealder andcrack willow in the wetter areas, and elsewhere oak and ash with ashrub layer of hazel. In winter wildfowl are visible and in spring many flower species. Invertebrates includered cardinal beetles,banded demoiselles and the rare and protectedDesmoulin's whorl snail.[4][2][5] Thebalsam carpet moth was added to the list of British species when it was found at the Wood in 1955, and it is only known at one other site in Britain.[6]
Access is by a footbridge across Frays River fromFrays Farm Meadows, which is also an nature reserve managed by London Wildlife Trust, south of the Wood. Access to the Meadows is by a stile on the east side of the Grand Union Canal at Denham Lock.