Flora of the Heathland

The heathland area of Ashdown Forest, comprising nearly 800 hectares, is the largest such habitat in south east England. Heathers predominate here, along with two species of gorse. Other heathland specialities include Petty Whin, Creeping Willow and the Heath Spotted Orchid. In the bogs and damper areas Bog Asphodel, Bog Cotton and White-beaked Sedge are to be found. The most famous Ashdown Forest plant is the brilliant blue Marsh Gentian, which is becoming increasingly rare although there are still about a dozen colonies to be seen, flowering from June to October.

Flora of the Woodland
The trees in the woodland areas are predominantly oak, birch and beech, along with holly and hazel in the understorey. The clumps of Scots Pine were mainly planted in the nineteenth century and, like the Silver Birch, can be an aggressive invader of heathland, thus requiring careful management and control. Bluebells, Wood Anemone, Wood Sorrel and Bilberry all enjoy the poor soils on the floors of the older woodlands. The Ivy-leafed Bellflower and Lesser Skullcap benefit from the extra light and disturbed ground on rides between the trees, while many species of fern colonise the damper areas.

Deer
Ashdown Forest owes its existence to deer – the old meaning of the word ‘forest’ denoted a place where deer could be hunted. The Red Deer, which, along with the Fallow, used to be pursued by kings and noblemen, has disappeared from the Forest, but the Fallow is now the most common species here, numbering more than 1000. Roe are on the increase, as are the tiny Muntjac from China and there are even occasional sightings of Japanese Sika. The Fallow does live on the Forest for much of the year, often in large groups. The bucks, proudly bearing their new antlers, arrive for the rut in September, coming in from the surrounding areas. The fawns are born in June and July.

Nearly 200 Fallow deer are killed on the roads around the Forest each year.

Birds of the Heathland
The Dartford Warbler, scarcest of Britain’s heathland species, lives and breeds on Ashdown Forest; the entire population is, however, at risk of being destroyed by an unusually harsh winter. The Stonechat enjoys the same habitat as the Dartford Warbler, where gorse is well established among the heather. Skylarks and Meadow Pipits are to be seen on the rides which cross the open heaths, while Linnets, Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and Whitethroats prefer areas of scrub. The large clumps of Scots Pines can become home to pairs of Hobbys. Two birds whose songs are the sound of the heathland are the Woodcock, which utters a croaking sound as it flies in its roding display in early Spring, and the Nightjar, which sings its churring song at dusk in Summer.

Birds of the Woodland
The Redstart, scarce elsewhere in south east England, breeds in groves of mature deciduous trees, while the Wood Warbler makes its home in close stands of Silver Birch. Grey Wagtails are to be found around the streams and ponds of the forest. Just recently a Mandarin Duck was photographed approaching its nest in a hole in the trunk of a Beech tree! Hardly a native, but enjoying the habitat all the same!

Other Wildlife
Around the ponds of Ashdown Forest can be seen half of Britain’s 46 species of damselfly and dragonfly, among the scarcer of which are the Black Darter, Brilliant Emerald and Small Red Damselfly. There are 34 recorded species of butterfly, the most spectacular being the Purple Emperor, which is rarely glimpsed as it lives at the tops of oak trees. The same surroundings are favoured by the Purple Hairstreak. More easily seen is the Silver-Studded Blue, Britain’s smallest blue butterfly, which is plentiful and whose caterpillars feed on gorse and heather. Some 400 species of moth live on the forest, as does the great Raft Spider, which makes its home in the ponds and pools, is more than 5cm across and capable of catching small fish!

Although there are adders on the forest they are rarely seen since they tend to disappear at the approach of people. As long as they are left alone they should be of little concern. Grass snakes are less common.