Lynsore Bottom

Also within

Kent County Kent Downs Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Area, 70 ha. 172.9 ac. Description This is a good example of a traditional coppice with standards woodland containing a variety of tree species. Ash maple and pedunculate oak hornbeam stands are the main woodland types on the eastern side of the valley. On the western slopes there is ash and sweet chestnut coppice, both with pedunculate oak standards. The site is also noted for the presence of several uncommon plants, particularly the lady orchid Orchis purpurea, a species restricted in Britain to Kent. The eastern woodlands, Fryarne Park Wood and Mill Bank, are the most varied. hazel and ash are the most common coppiced species on the chalk soils of the lower slopes with ash and hornbeam on the clay with flints soils of the upper slopes. Pedunculate oak and beech standards are present throughout. Other species include birch, field maple, whitebeam and shrubs such as wayfaring tree. The western part of the site, in Atchester Wood, is more uniform. Here either sweet chestnut or ash, both as coppice, are the most common trees. There are also some oak standards and the occasional birch, willow or hornbeam. Part of this area has been felled and replanted with larch and beech. Some oak standards have been retained and there is also some regrowth of other species. The ground flora of all these woods is varied and includes several plants considered to be indicative of woods that have had continuous tree cover since mediaeval times, such as yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and wood anemone Anemone nemorosa. Many uncommon plants also occur including woodvetch Vicia sylvatica, herb paris Paris quadrifolia, green hellebore Helleborus viridis, Solomon's seal Polygonatum multiflorum and goldilocks Ranunculus auricomus. Dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and brambles Rubus fruticosus are the commonest plants. The woods are also important for breeding birds including tawny owl, grasshopper warbler and hawfinch. The area is also noted for the high numbers of nightingales.

Species mentioned