Combwell Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.0817, 0.4354

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Also within

Kent County High Weald Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (2) Unfavourable Declining (2) Unfavourable Recovering (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ700341 — Favourable 32.76 2022-10-03
TQ702339 — Favourable 32.76 2022-10-03
TQ702341 — Unfavourable Declining 6.39 2022-10-03
TQ705341 — Unfavourable Recovering 19.41 2022-10-03
TQ711343 — Unfavourable Declining 52.05 2022-10-03

Climate exposure

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

Peatland

Peat habitats store centuries of carbon and depend on a stable, waterlogged water table. Warmer, drier summers dry out peat, making it far more vulnerable to wildfire and to carbon release — a pressure that can undo years of restoration work regardless of how well the site is otherwise managed.

Habitats

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

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Sandstone

Landscape processes: Peatland / Mire

Description

Area, 110.82 ha. 173.73 ac. Description Combwell Wood is an ancient wood on Tunbridge Wells Sandstone, with deep stream valleys gills in which peat has accumulated. The wood has a large number of plants that are typical of south eastern ancient woodlands, these being particularly associated with the gills and the open rides. The former contain several uncommon 'Atlantic' bryophytes mosses and liverworts as well as two nationally scarce ** water beetles Coleoptera. Much of the site has traditionally been managed as coppice, but undisturbed woodland cover has probably persisted continuously along the steep sided gills maintaining the moist mild climate suitable for the 'Atlantic' bryophytes. These are thought to be survivors from the Atlantic climatic period of Western Europe, about 5000 years ago. The coppiced woods contain much sweet chestnut Castanea sativa with both silver and hairy birch Betula pendula and Betula pubescens and scattered oak Quercus robur standards. The ground flora contains much bramble Rubus fruticosus and bracken Pteridium aquilinum, but it is on the rides and open glades that particularly diverse plant communities occur. Here heather Calluna vulgaris is abundant, with several species that are scarce in Kent * such as saw wort Serratula tinctoria, allseed Radiola linoides, lesser centaury Centaurium pulchellum and the nationally rare *** moss Atrichum angustutum. The epiphytic lichen flora is also very rich, with a range of species characteristic of ancient woodland, such as Thelotrama lepachinum and the nationally scarce Cyphelium sessile. In the gills and other wet flushes alder Alnus glutinosa is frequent, over lady fern Athyrium filix-femina, opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and the bog moss Sphagnum palustre. The moist mild micro climate of the gills is suitable for several 'Atlantic' bryophytes that are most frequently found in Western Britain and are rare in the South east of England, such as the mosses Hookeria lucens and Hyocomium armoricum. In the flushes and shaded woodland pools there are two nationally scarce species of water beetles, Ilybius chalconatus and Hydroporus neglectus, as well as several others that are local in distribution. * Scarce in Kent, recorded from between 1 and 5 percent of the two kilometres 3 two kilometres tetrads in Kent. ** Nationally scarce, recorded from between 16 and 100 10 kilometres squares in Britain. *** Nationally rare, recorded from 15 or less 10 kilometres squares in Britain.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
no common name Ilybius chalconatus Not listed in GB list beetle water dytiscidae
lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina LC fern woodsiaceae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
lesser centuaries Centaurium pulchellum LC herb gentianaceae
opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium LC herb saxifragaceae
allseed Radiola linoides Not listed in GB list herb linaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
saw wort Serratula tinctoria VU herb asteraceae
shining hookeria Hookeria lucens LC moss hookeriales
flagellate feather moss Hyocomium armoricum LC moss hypnales
blunt leaved bog moss Sphagnum palustre LC moss sphagnales
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
downy birch Betula pubescens LC tree betulaceae
sweet chestnut Castanea sativa LC tree fagaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae

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

M1 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Sphagnum auriculatum bog pool community

Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Carex limosa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora fusca, Trichophorum cespitosum, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus bulbosus, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Scheuchzeria palustris, Molinia caerulea

M2 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire

Sphagnum cuspidatum/recurvum bog pool community

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Carex canescens, Carex magellanica, Carex rostrata, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Aulacomnium palustre, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum tenellum, Cephalozia connivens, Cephalozia lunulifolia, Gymnocolea inflata, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Agrostis canina, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea

M3 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Eriophorum angustifolium bog pool community

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Erica tetralix, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Campylopus brevipilus, Drepanocladus fluitans, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum papillosum, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera rotundifolia, Agrostis canina, Molinia caerulea

M15 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Upland wet heath

Scirpus cespitosus-Erica tetralix wet heath

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex dioica, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Scorpidium revolvens, Scorpidium scorpioides, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophozia ventricosa, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Aneura pinguis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Succisa pratensis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Hypericum pulchrum, Triglochin palustre, Pinguicula vulgaris, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Dactylorhiza maculata, Euphrasia officinalis, Pedicularis palustris, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Trientalis europaea, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum

M17 — Blanket bog

Scirpus cespitosus-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex demissa, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Campylopus setifolius, Campylopus shawii, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum imbricatum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum strictum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Agrostis canina, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta

M18 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Erica tetralix-Sphagnum papillosum raised and blanket mire

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephalozia connivens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Narthecium ossifragum, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea

M19 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Calluna vulgaris-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire

Empetrum nigrum, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Betula nana, Arctostaphylos alpinus, Vaccinium microcarpum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex nigra, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Ptilidium ciliare, Hypogymnia physodes, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia tenuis, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Cornus suecica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Neottia cordata, Potentilla erecta, Rubus chamaemorus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant

M20 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire

Eriophorum vaginatum blanket and raised mire

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Drepanocladus fluitans, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephaloziella hampeana, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia taylorii, Ptilidium ciliare, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina

M25 — Blanket bog, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland acid grassland

Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire

Salix cinerea, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Lobelia urens, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Phragmites australis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Osmunda regalis

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Hedera 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