Binglett's Wood

Also within

East Sussex County High Weald Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Bracken scrub, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Limestone, Sandstone

Description

Area, 15.86 ha. 39.2 ac. Description This area of ancient woodland lies on Ashdown beds and Purbeck limestone. The main feature of the site is the ghyll woodland which contains several plants with an 'Atlantic' distribution. This habitat type and its associated flora is restricted in Britain to the Weald and the west of the country. Although parts of the plateau area have been modified by the planting of sweet chestnut Castanea sativa coppice the majority of the woodland, including the ghyll, remains semi natural. The steep sided ghyll has been created by vigorous down cutting of the stream through the strata leaving a range of soil types and blocks of exposed Ashdown sandstone. The warm and moist microclimate of the ghyll has allowed the retention of an 'Atlantic' flora which is particularly rich in bryophytes, mosses and liverworts. A small glade with two ponds occurs in the middle of the wood. The ghyll woodland is variable and consists, on the valley side, of mature beech Fagus sylvatica, ash Fraxinus excelsior and pedunculate oak Quercus robur above patches of hazel Corylus avellana coppice and hornbeam Carpinus betulus coppice. The midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata is a notable plant of the shrub layer while the rich field layer includes dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana, ground ivy Glechoma hederacea, sanicle Sanicula europaea and the locally uncommon violet helleborine Epipactis purpurata. Alder Alnus glutinosa and ash line the stream and the small lateral flushes which run into it. Notable 'Atlantic' plants which occur in the ghyll include hay scented fern Dryopteris aemula, Cornish moneywort Sibthorpia europaea and three uncommon bryophytes, Hyocomium armoricum, Saccogyna viticulosa and Rhytidiadelphus loreus. Bingletts Wood has the only recent record in lowland Britain for the fir clubmoss Huperzia selago. The remaining semi natural woodland on the plateau consists of hazel and hornbeam coppice below oak standards. Downy birch Betula pubescens is also present above the field layer of bracken Pteridium aquilinum, bramble Rubus fruticosus and slender false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum. The woodland glade TQ 622213 consists of grassland around two ponds. The ponds support white water lily Nymphaea alba and pondweeds Potamogeton species and the glade is visited by dragonflies.

Species mentioned

Plant communities