Denge Wood

Last updated

Denge Wood
Denge Wood 1.JPG
Chalk grassland and shrubland at Bonsai Bank in Denge Wood
Map
Kent UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Geography
LocationKent,England
OS grid TR102514
Coordinates 51°13′25″N1°00′35″E / 51.2235°N 1.0098°E / 51.2235; 1.0098

Denge Wood is a wood located 8 miles southwest of Canterbury in Kent, England. The wood is owned by the Forestry Commission and the Woodland Trust. Part of the wood is also privately owned. Much of Denge Wood is classified as ancient semi-natural woodland suggesting it has been in existence since at least 1600AD and probably longer.

Contents

Location and geology

Denge Wood is situated on the dip slope of the North Downs and within the Kent Downs AONB. The wood is located on clay with flints over chalk bedrock at a maximum altitude of 140 metres. Two dry valleys run northward on the eastern side of the wood whilst the western side is located on a plateau. The westernmost fringes of Eggringe Wood and Down Wood form part of the eastern Stour Valley escarpment.

Ecology

Flora

The wood consists largely of chestnut coppice and conifer plantations. There are also areas of beech (Fagus sylvatica), hazel (Corylus avellana), ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and oak (Quercus robur) woodland. There are several clearings in the wood where there is a mixture of scrubland and chalk grassland such as at Bonsai Bank. Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) grow on neutral soils whilst on the alkaline, lime rich soils plants such as dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis), herb paris (Paris quadrifolia) and columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) can be found.

Denge Wood is particularly notable for the range of orchids that it supports. twayblade (Neottia ovata), common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis), greater butterfly orchid (Platanthera chlorantha), man orchid (Aceras anthropophorum) and fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) occur in the scrubland and chalk grassland. The early purple orchid (Orchis mascula), fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera), lesser butterfly orchid (Platanthera bifolia) and bird's nest orchid (Neottia nidus-avis) can be found in woodland areas whilst there is also a large population of the rare lady orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Fauna

The wood provides an important habitat for nesting and migratory birds including the nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) and spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa striata). Up to 27 species of butterfly have been recorded in the area managed by the Woodland Trust and there are populations of green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi), grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae) and the scarce Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina). The woodland provides a habitat for mammals including the dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) and reptiles such as common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) and adder (Vipera berus). There are also populations of fallow deer (Dama dama) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).

Human use

Denge Wood is a popular site for walking and horse-riding due to its scenic beauty and ecological interest. The land that is owned by the Woodland Trust and Forestry Commission is open access and there a network of footpaths, bridleways and byways that cross the wood. Parts of Denge Wood are also used for economic activity such as forestry.

In May 2005 Denge Wood was the site of a rave that attracted up to 2000 people to the site. The rave resulted in substantial damage to wildlife and the rubbish left behind including human excrement, methadone bottles and needles took a whole day to clear up. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act prevents raves although the police stated that they did not have the resources available at the time to act against the event. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Downs</span> Range of hills in south east England, UK

The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. Much of the North Downs comprises two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs): the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs. The North Downs Way National Trail runs along the North Downs from Farnham to Dover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selborne Common</span>

Selborne Common is a 99.6-hectare (246-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Selborne in Hampshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, and is part of the East Hampshire Hangers Special Area of Conservation. It is managed by the National Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Chiltington</span> Village in East Sussex, England

East Chiltington is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. It is centred four miles (5.9 km) south-east of Burgess Hill and five miles (8 km) north-west of Lewes. It is a strip parish of 3.76 square miles (9.7 km2), stretching northward from the crest of the South Downs. The village church is 13th century in origin; the vicar also has charge of two churches in Plumpton. Near the church there is a pub called The Jolly Sportsman. The Sussex Greensand Way, a Roman road, runs from east to west through the centre of the parish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newtimber</span> Human settlement in England

Newtimber is a small village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. It is located north-west of Brighton. The parish also includes the hamlet of Saddlescombe. The parish lies almost wholly with the South Downs National Park, with the exception of a small section of the parish north of the B2117 road. The planning authority for Newtimber is therefore the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), the statutory planning authority for the National Park area. The downland scarp, which includes Newtimber Hill, Newtimber Holt, Saddlescombe chalk quarry and Summer Down, is mostly part of the Beeding Hill to Newtimber Hill, designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyecombe</span> Human settlement in England

Pyecombe is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. Pyecombe is located 7 miles (11 km) to the north of Brighton. The civil parish covers an area of 887 hectares and has a population of 200, increasing at the 2011 Census to a population of 237.

<i>Platanthera bifolia</i> Species of orchid

Platanthera bifolia, commonly known as the lesser butterfly-orchid, is a species of orchid in the genus Platanthera, having certain relations with the genus Orchis, where it was previously included and also with the genus Habenaria. It is a Palaearctic species occurring from Ireland in the west, across Europe and Asia to Korea and Japan. It is also found in North Africa. The name Platanthera is derived from Greek, meaning 'broad anthers', while the species name, bifolia, means 'two leaves'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartslock</span> Wood and nature reserve in Oxfordshire, UK

Hartslock, also known as Hartslock Woods, is a 41.8-hectare (103-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in a wooded area on the north bank of the River Thames to the south-east of Goring-on-Thames in the English county of Oxfordshire. An area of 29.4 hectares is a Special Area of Conservation and an area of 10 hectares is a nature reserve owned and managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT). The site is well known for the variety of wild orchids that grow on its sloping grassland, and especially for the monkey orchid that grows in very few other places in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Park Gate Down</span>

Park Gate Down or Parkgate Down is a 7-hectare (17-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south-east of Stelling Minnis in Kent. It is also a Special Area of Conservation and is managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust,

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queendown Warren</span>

Queendown Warren is a 22.2-hectare (55-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south-east of Rainham in Kent. It is a Local Nature Reserve, a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2, and a Special Area of Conservation. It is in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust, and part of it is owned by Plantlife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westfield Wood</span>

Westfield Wood is a 5-hectare (12-acre) nature reserve north of Maidstone in Kent, which is managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust. It is part of the Wouldham to Detling Escarpment Site of Special Scientific Interest and Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. It is also in the North Downs Woodlands Special Area of Conservation and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burham Down</span>

Burham Down is a 110-hectare (270-acre) nature reserve between Maidstone and Chatham in Kent. It is managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust. It is part of the Wouldham to Detling Escarpment Site of Special Scientific Interest and Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the North Downs Woodlands Special Area of Conservation.

The Folkestone Downs are an area of chalk downland above Folkestone, where the eastern end of the North Downs escarpment meets the English Channel. Part of the Downs is the Folkestone to Etchinghill Escarpment Site of Special Scientific Interest, designated for its geological and biological interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiddler's Elbow National Nature Reserve</span>

Fiddler's Elbow National Nature Reserve is a steep sided, woodland national nature reserve of 45 hectares in the Upper Wye Valley to the north of Monmouth in Wales, close to the Wales–England border. It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its biological characteristics, containing a wide variety of flora.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve</span> A Chiltern Hills nature reserve

Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve is located on the north-west escarpment of the Chiltern Hills, in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has an area of 159.1 hectares, and most of it is a 128.5 hectares biological Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is listed as a Grade 1 site in A Nature Conservation Review. The reserve is in several sections, mostly in the parish of Lewknor in Oxfordshire, with smaller sections in the parish of Stokenchurch in Buckinghamshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downe Bank</span> UK nature reserve

Downe Bank is a nature reserve owned and managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust in the North Downs, close to Downe in the London Borough of Bromley. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) together with the neighbouring High Elms Country Park. Located close to Charles Darwin's home, Down House, it was one of his favourite places and helped to inspire his work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentwyn Farm Grasslands</span>

Pentwyn Farm Grasslands is a nature reserve, and a series of agricultural fields, in Monmouthshire, southeast Wales. It was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1993, noted for its biological characteristics.

Dinmore Hill Woods is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest in Herefordshire, England. It is an extensive area of mixed native broadleaved woodlands overlying rocks of the Old Red Sandstone. It forms one of the largest continuous blocks of deciduous woodland in this part of Herefordshire. The soils which range from acid to alkaline and front wet to dry gives rise to a diverse woodland structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combe Wood and Linkenholt Hanging</span> Protected area in Berkshire, England

Combe Wood and Linkenholt Hanging is a 106.5-hectare (263-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Hungerford in Berkshire. It is in the North Wessex Downs, which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kemsing Down</span>

Kemsing Down is a 16-hectare (40-acre) nature reserve north of Sevenoaks in Kent. It is managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust. It is in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beeding Hill to Newtimber Hill</span>

Beeding Hill to Newtimber Hill is a 321 ha (790-acre) biological and geological Downland Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) north of Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2, and it includes Devil's Dyke Geological Conservation Review site.

References

  1. "Thousands cause rave woods damage". BBC News. 17 May 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2007.