Ileden and Oxenden Woods
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TR215516 | — | Favourable | 19.3 | 2008-05-12 |
| TR215521 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 10.19 | 2012-03-30 |
| TR216517 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 10.19 | 2012-03-30 |
| TR217522 | — | Favourable | 17.36 | 2008-05-12 |
| TR218524 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 10.19 | 2012-03-30 |
| TR219523 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 10.19 | 2012-03-30 |
| TR219529 | — | Favourable | 37.12 | 2008-05-12 |
| TR221527 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 2.48 | 2008-11-11 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| nightingale | Breeding |
Description
Description The site is representative of east Kent plateau woodland on Upper Chalk and thin chalk drifts. The range of soil types present is reflected in the variety of stand types and the diversity of the ground flora. Two of the stand types represented on this site are nationally rare. The rotational coppicing of large areas, combined in a mosaic with high forest stands adds to the structural diversity of the woodland has resulted in the presence of a very rich breeding bird community, including nightingale 17 pairs in 1985 and hawfinch. Two nationally rare plants also occur. Three woodland stand types can be distinguished on this site. Ash maple woodland tends to predominate on the driest soils, where there are very few oak Quercus robur standard trees. Oak ash beech wood occurs chiefly on the thinnest soils, whilst oak hornbeam stands are mainly confined to areas where the deepest head and dry valley deposits have accumulated. Past management has obscured these woodland types in some areas, i.e. where the widespread planting of sweet chestnut Castanea sativa and blocks of coniferous trees has taken place. Coppiced hazel Corylus avellana occurs throughout the wood, while whitebeam Sorbus aria, holly Ilex aquifolium, wild cherry Prunus avium and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus are locally frequent. Where the canopy is not too dense, the shrub layer is well developed. Species such as wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana and wild privet Ligustrum vulgare indicate the calcareous nature of the substrate whilst others such as midland hawthorn Crataegus lsevigata and spurge laurel Daphne laureola are indicative of ancient woodland. The ground flora is very rich, especially in the southern half of the wood where the soil is more calcareous. bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and bramble Rubus fruticosus are the most abundant species, but a number of others characteristic of ancient woodland also occur including herb paris Paris quadrifolia, wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides and early purple orchid Orchis mascula. Other orchids present include fly Ophrys insectifera, lesser butterfly Platanthera bifolia and two rarities, the lady orchid Orchis purpurea a species largely confined to Kent and the narrow lipped helleborine Epipactis leptochila. Most of these woodland floor plants grow best in the years immediately following coppicing, but a continuation of woodland cover with alternating periods of shade and light as the coppice grows and is re cut, is necessary for their survival in the longer term. Some of the middle section of the wood is of recent secondary origin and provides an interesting contrast to the structure and species composition of the ancient woodland. Although as yet unrecorded, it is likely that this site supports a rich invertebrate fauna.
Species mentioned
Show the 22 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
W12 — Beech wood
Fagus sylvatica-Mercurialis perennis woodland
Show 91 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Carpinus betulus, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Aesculus hippocastanum, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus avium, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Buxus sempervirens, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Viburnum opulus, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Crataegus monogyna, Daphne laureola, Carex flacca, Carex sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Fissidens taxifolius, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thamnobryum alopecurum, Tamus communis, Anthriscus sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium, Sanicula europaea, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Mycelis muralis, Solidago virgaurea, Cynoglossum officinale, Alliaria petiolata, Campanula trachelium, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum hirsutum, Iris foetidissima, Ajuga reptans, Glechoma hederacea, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Epilobium montanum, Cephalanthera damasonium, Neottia nidus-avis, Neottia ovata, Veronica chamaedrys, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus bulbosus, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium odoratum, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas
W14 — Beech wood, Wood pasture
Fagus sylvatica-Rubus fruticosus woodland
Show 76 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Prunus avium, Sorbus aria, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Sambucus nigra, Ruscus aculeatus, Ligustrum vulgare, Carex remota, Carex sylvatica, Luzula pilosa, Mnium hornum, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens taxifolius, Brachythecium rutabulum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Arum maculatum, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Stellaria media agg., Euphorbia amygdaloides, Mercurialis perennis, Hypericum pulchrum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Epipactis helleborine, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Geum urbanum, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium odoratum, Galium verum, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus giganteus, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas
W15 — Beech wood, Wood pasture
Fagus sylvatica-Deschampsia flexuosa woodland
Show 54 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata, Calluna vulgaris, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ruscus aculeatus, Carex pilulifera, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum formosum, Tetraphis pellucida, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Lepidozia reptans, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia squamules, Lonicera periclymenum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Rubus fruticosus agg., Melanpyrum pratense, Agrostis capillaris, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata