Robins Wood

Also within

Kent County High Weald Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Description

Area, 53.9 ha. 133.2 ac. Description Robins Wood is typical of the linear woodlands which have developed along deep stream valleys ghylls in the weald. The humid conditions prevailing in such places support a rich assemblage of ferns, mosses and liverworts including species which are rare in Kent. The two main ghylls follow parallel lines of fracture faults in the underlying geological strata and these fractures have brought contrasting beds of the Wealden series into contact along the stream bed, Wadhurst clays and the Ashdown sands. The valleys are likely to have retained a woodland cover since natural colonisation following the last ice age and may thus be termed 'ancient woodland'. The woods consist mainly of mixed hornbeam Carpinus betulus, ash Fraxinus excelsior and hazel Corylus avellana coppice below oak Quercus robur and occasional beech Fagus sylvatica standards. In some areas the coppice layer has been restocked with sweet chestnut Castanea sativa and here birch Betula spp. and aspen Populus tremula are also common. guelder rose Viburnum opulus and midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata are present in the shrub layer, above aground flora dominated by bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta, bramble Rubus fruticosus and dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis. Other more locally distributed species include wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus, violet helleborine Epipactis purpurata, imperforate St John's wort Hypericum maculatum and early purple orchid Orchis mascula. Over the streams alder Alnus glutinosa coppice becomes dominant, with willows Salix spp. frequent above a ground flora reflecting the wetter conditions. opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and many species of fern occur here including the rare hay scented buckler fern Dryopteris aemula. The damp, mild microclimate is ideal for bryophytes mosses and liverworts and a rich assemblage of species has been recorded. Several are more commonly found in the west of Britain and are present in Kent at the eastern most extent of their national distribution; these include Hookeria lucens, Trichocolea tomentella and Campylostelium saxicola. Several ponds add to the habitat diversity of the site.

Species mentioned

Plant communities