East Blean Woods

East Blean Woods is a 151.4-hectare (374-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Herne Bay in Kent.[1][2] It is also a National Nature Reserve[3][4][5] a Special Area of Conservation[6] and a Nature Conservation Review site.[7] An area of 122 hectares (300 acres) is managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust.[8]

East Blean Woods
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Area of SearchKent
Grid referenceTR 188 642[1]
InterestBiological
Area151.4 hectares (374 acres)[1]
Notification1985[1]
Location mapMagic Map

The reserve is ancient semi-natural woodland situated on poorly drained London clay, with a small area of gravelly soil in the south. The underlying clay results in much surface water and mud in winter and wet summers. The soil is mostly fairly acid, as shown by the carpets of bluebells and patches of heather (Calluna vulgaris), but more alkaline elsewhere, with characteristic species such as spurge-laurel (Daphne laureola), sanicle (Sanicula europaea) and common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii).

The wood has been heavily managed in the past as wood pasture and as a source for sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) coppice. When conditions are open, after the coppice is cut, much of the ground is colonised by common cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense), which is the food plant of the caterpillar of the rare heath fritillary (Melitaea athalia) butterfly. As the chestnut grows up again and the shade becomes denser, the habitat becomes unsuitable for the flowers and butterflies, therefore it is very important that regular coppicing is carried out to maintain open areas for our colony of one of Britain's rarest butterflies. The older coppice is, however, valuable for nesting birds such as warblers, and the maturing oak and wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis) stands attract many insects and birds such as woodpeckers, nuthatches and treecreepers.

References
  1. "Designated Sites View: East Blean Woods". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  2. "Map of East Blean Woods". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  3. "Designated Sites View: Blean Woods". National Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. "Kent's National Nature Reserves". Natural England. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  5. "East Blean Woods National Nature Reserve". Kent County Council. 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  6. "Designated Sites View: Blean Complex". Special Area of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  7. Ratcliffe, p. 45
  8. "East Blean Wood". Kent Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 25 January 2018.

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