Eridge Green

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.1003, 0.2182

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Also within

East Sussex County High Weald Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ553359 — Favourable 3.88 2015-02-27
TQ554356 — Favourable 4.52 2015-02-27

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Sandstone

Landscape processes: Coastal

Description

Area, 8.4 ha. 20.7 ac. Description This area of ancient woodland lies on Grinstead clays with outcrops of Tunbridge Wells sandstone. The sandstone outcrops support an unusual flora. Eridge Green is shown as woodland on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1816 and it is likely that woodland cover has been maintained since at least the Middle Ages. The majority of the wood, however, has been modified by broadleaved and conifer plantations and rhododendron is widespread. The woodland canopy helps retain a microclimate of high humidity which favours the sand rock flora. The sandstone outcrops form a cliff face up to 10 metres high. The red or yellow sandstones have been weathered to a dark brown or black by re-deposited iron oxides. Notable species recorded from the rocks include the Tunbridge filmy fern Hymenophyllum tunbrigense, the mosses Dicranum scottianum arid Orthodontium gracile and the liverworts Scapania umbrosa, S. gracilis and Harpanthus scutatus. Only the woodland on steep slopes above the rocks is unmodified with mature beech Fagus sylvatica occurring with holly Ilex aquifolium and yew Taxus baccata above a sparse ground flora of bramble Rubus fruticosus. Elsewhere rhododendron and planted sweet chestnut Castanea sativa and larch Larix decidua are fairly widespread amongst the indigenous pedunculate oak Quercus robur, hazel Corylus avellana, birch Betula pendula, ash Fraxinus excelsior, sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and beech. Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta and dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis form a dense ground flora in places. The woodland rides support a flora which includes water pepper Polygonum hydropiper and corn mint Mentha arvensis. A small stream runs through the site but is heavily shaded by trees and contains little vegetation.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
Tunrbidge filmy-fern Hymenophyllum tunbrigense VU fern hymenophyllaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
corn mint Mentha arvensis VU herb lamiaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
water pepper Polygonum hydropiper Not listed in GB list herb polygonaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
stipula flapwort Harpanthus scutatus LC liverwort jungermanniales
shady earwort Scapania umbrosa LC liverwort jungermanniales
Scot's fork moss Dicranum scottianum LC moss dicranales
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
sweet chestnut Castanea sativa LC tree fagaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
beech Fagus sylvatica LC tree fabiaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
larch Larix decidua Not listed in GB list tree pinaceae
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

Schoenoplectus 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

Isolepis 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

Berula 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

Fontinalis 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