Philosophy

Expertise

Work

Case Studies

Cost

Conservation Information

E-mail:

contact@collingridge.net with "contact" in the subject line.

Phone:

+44 (0)1425 475071

Mobile:

+44 (0)7790 677163

Return to NVC survey summary

Part of report for Upper Greensand Hangers - Empshott to Hawkley survey :

5 Summary of NVC communities present

5.1 Summary The principle NVC community found was W8 Fraxinus excelsior-Acer campestre-Mercurialis perennis woodland. This varies, depending on the soil depth, hydrology and base-richness. Many of the woods in the south of the survey area appear to have been heavily grazed in the past, and have very little vegetation other than woody species. The upper valley of the River Rother (a small stream here less than a mile from its source) is relatively acidic, and here the woodland shows transitions to W1O Quercus robur-Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus. There has been planting in some places, either with conifers or with beech Fagus sylvatica - beech is particularly common as lines of large trees along the crests of steep slopes.

5.2 Calcareous woodland communities Most of the woodland is calcareous. On lower parts of the steeper slopes the vegetation is often W8f, characterised by strong dominance of ramsons Allium ursinum. The drier or less steep areas do not fit so clearly into the NVC classification, showing characteristics of a number of other W8 subcommunities, mainly W8a (Primula vulgaris-Glechoma hederacea) and W8e (Geranium robertianum).