Heathfield Park
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TQ594209 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 41.01 | 2014-03-13 |
Habitats
Description
Description This site is an example of an ancient Wealden ghyll woodland formed by the vigorous down cutting of a stream into the Ashdown Sand series of the Hastings Beds. A number of 'Atlantic' plants, uncommon in the south east, are present and the lichen flora is also notable. The stream has been dammed to form a series of lakes, the northernmost of which are included in the site and add to its interest. The woodland is dominated by mature beech Fagus sylvatica with both pedunculate and sessile oak Quercus robur and Q. petraea, holly Ilex aquifolium and scattered yew Taxus baccata. In the north and east birch Betula spp. becomes frequent and the stream valleys contain willow Salix spp. and alder Alnus glutinosa. Where beech is dense only the moss Leucobryum glaucum gives ground cover, but where the canopyis more open bracken Pteridium aquilinum and bramble Rubus fruticosus are found with rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum invading in places. Continuous woodland cover in this sheltered ghyll provides a moist, mild microclimate and a number of plant species occur here which are otherwise restricted to western counties, including Cornish moneywort Sibthorpia europaea, hay scented buckler fern Dryopteris aemula and the liverwort Frullania tamarisci. The site is also of county importance for lichens, a total of 76 species have been recorded here, mostly from the old oaks. The lakes add to the value of the site for dragonflies and birds. great reed mace Typha latifolia forms fringing vegetation and the open water is dominated by white and yellow water lilies Nymphaea alba and Nuphar lutea.
Species mentioned
Show the 15 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| reedmace | Typha latifolia | LC | bulrush | typhaceae |
| hay-scented fern | Dryopteris aemula | LC | fern | dryopteridaceae |
| bracken | Pteridium aquilinum | LC | fern | dennstaedtiaceae |
| water lillies | Nuphar lutea | LC | herb | nymphaeaceae |
| white water-lily | Nymphaea alba | LC | herb | nymphaeaceae |
| bramble | Rubus fruticosus | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| Cornish moneywort | Sibthorpia europaea | LC | herb | scrophulariaceae |
| tamarisk scalewort | Frullania tamarisci | LC | liverwort | jungermanniales |
| large white moss | Leucobryum glaucum | LC | moss | dicranales |
| rhodedendron | Rhododendron ponticum | Not listed in GB list | shrub | ericaceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| beech | Fagus sylvatica | LC | tree | fabiaceae |
| holly | Ilex aquifolium | LC | tree | aquifoliaceae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| yew | Taxus baccata | LC | tree | taxaceae |
Plant communities
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina
A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans
A18 — Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus fluitans community
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas