Forest Banks
Forest Banks is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Staffordshire, England. It is located 3km southwest of Marchington. This protected area comprises three patches of woodland that are within a section of the former Royal Forest of Needwood. This area is protected because the steep slopes of the local topography allows a woodland assemblage that is otherwise uncommon in Staffordshire, and also for the diversity of moths and butterflies.
Forest Banks SSSI is cited within the Bagots Forest Plan written by the Forestry Commission.
Biology
Forest Banks SSSI is particularly noteworthy for populations of small-leaved lime and large-leaved lime coexisting. This site is one of the few localities for native hornbeam in the Midlands. Herbaceous species include bluebell, wood anemone, woodruff, opposite leaved golden-saxifrage and early-purple orchid. The parasitic plant called toothwort is also found in this protected area. Fern species include oak fern and soft shield fern.The site supports a diversity of butterflies and moths including scorched wing.