Darwell Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.9556, 0.4340

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ709201 Favourable 28.74 2016-08-22
TQ713200 Favourable 8.76 2016-08-22

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
sparrowhawk Breeding
woodcock Breeding

Description

Description This site consists of a relatively large area of broadleaved woodland deeply dissected by a number of streams which drain into Darwell Reservoir to the north. The site probably represents the best example of hornbeam coppice with oak standards in Sussex. A number of other woodland types are also found which are rare in the national context. A wide range of woodland birds also breed on this site. Darwell Wood has developed over formations of the Ashdown Sands, Purbeck Beds and Wadhurst Clay. The resulting variation in geology has influenced the types of plants which are able to grow in different areas. The majority of the site is dominated by mature hornbeam Carpinus betulus coppice with oak Quercus robur standards. Under the dense canopy the ground flora is sparse arid consists mainly of mosses, although occasionally bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta, bramble Rubus fruticosus and wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella form a more dense cover. On higher ground the oak/hornbeam woodland gives way to a more open silver birch Betula pendulaoak woodland, often with hazel Corylus avellana and some sweet chestnut Castanea sativa coppice. The ground flora here includes wood sage Teucrium scorodonia, bracken Pteridium aquilinum and sanicle Sanicula europaea. In the west of the site calcareous soils support an ash Fraxinus excelsior hazel wood with a ground flora comprised of plants indicative of base rich soils, amongst them ramsons Allium ursinum, bee and pyramidal orchids Ophrys apifera and Anacamptis pyramidalis, as well as several calcicolous mosses. The streams which traverse the site have cut deeply into the underlying rock to produce steep sided valleys. The valley floors are dominated by alder Alnus glutinosa, with local abundancies of grey willow Salix cinerea above a ground flora of pendulous sedge Carex pendula, water mint Mentha aquatica, opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and ragged-robin Silene flos-cuculi. The woodland supports a rich community of breeding birds which includes woodcock, green woodpecker, sparrowhawk and tawny owl.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus NT (Breeding) bird-hawk falconidae
tawny owl Strix aluco NT (Breeding) bird-owl strigidae
woodcock Scolopax rusticola LC (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) bird-woodcock scolopacidae
green woodpecker Picus viridis LC (Breeding) bird-woodpecker picidae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
ramson Allium ursinum LC herb liliaceae
pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis LC herb orchidaceae
opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium LC herb saxifragaceae
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC herb liliaceae
water mint Mentha aquatica LC herb lamiaceae
bee orchid Ophrys apifera LC herb orchidaceae
wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella LC herb oxalidaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus LC herb rosaceae
sanicle Sanicula europaea LC herb apiaceae
ragged-robin Silene flos-cuculi LC herb carophyllaceae
wood sage Teucrium scorodonia LC herb lamiaceae
pendulous sedge Carex pendula LC sedge cyperaceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
hornbeam Carpinus betulus LC tree betulaceae
sweet chestnut Castanea sativa LC tree fagaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
grey willow Salix cinerea LC tree shrub salicaceae

Insects to look out for

These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Salix spp.
Heath fritillary
Melitaea athalia
Endangered Teucrium scorodonia
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Alnus glutinosa, Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Salix spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus fruticosus
Scarce chocolate-tip
Clostera anachoreta
Vulnerable Salix cinerea, Salix spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Carpinus betulus, Castanea sativa, Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Salix spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Salix spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Alnus glutinosa, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp.
Grizzled skipper
Pyrgus malvae
Vulnerable Rubus fruticosus
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Rubus fruticosus, Salix spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Salix spp.
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Mentha spp.
Purple emperor
Apatura iris
Near Threatened Salix cinerea
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Pteridium aquilinum, Salix cinerea
Minor shoulder-knot
Brachylomia viminalis
Near Threatened Salix cinerea
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Salix spp.
Dingy mocha
Cyclophora pendularia
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa, Salix cinerea
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa, Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Salix spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Salix spp.
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Quercus spp., Salix spp.
Clay fan-foot
Paracolax tristalis
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Common fan-foot
Pechipogo strigilata
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Frosted green
Polyploca ridens
Near Threatened Quercus robur

Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Plant communities

W9 — Altantic hazel wood, Limestone pavement, Upland mixed ash wood

Fraxinus excelsior-Sorbus aucuparia-Mercurialis perennis woodland

Matches 11 species from the description above: Allium ursinum, Alnus glutinosa, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Salix cinerea, Sanicula europaea

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer campestre, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Prunus padus, Sorbus aucuparia, Alnus glutinosa, Populus tremula, Ulmus glabra, Sambucus nigra, Crataegus monogyna, Rubus saxatilis, Carex pallescens, Carex sylvatica, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium rostratum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens curnovii, Fissidens taxifolius, Brachythecium rutabulum, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Ctenidium molluscum, Eurhynchium striatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium alopecuroides, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Oxyrrhynchium hians, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium succulentum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum formosum, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Pellia endiviifolia, Pellia epiphylla, Adoxa moschatellina, Angelica sylvestris, Anthriscus sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Sanicula europaea, Arum maculatum, Cirsium heterophyllum, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Jacobaea vulgaris, Tussilago farfara, Cardamine flexuosa, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Vicia sepium, Geranium robertianum, Geranium sylvaticum, Ajuga reptans, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Stachys sylvatica, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Circaea x intermedia, Epilobium montanum, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica montana, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Fragaria vesca, Geum rivale, Geum urbanum, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla sterilis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Cruciata laevipes, Galium aparine, Galium odoratum, Galium saxatile, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis ramosa, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus giganteus, Asplenium scolopendrium, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Athyrium filix-femina

W11 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Oxalis acetosella woodland

Matches 7 species from the description above: Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Teucrium scorodonia

Acer campestre, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Cytisus scoparius, Crataegus monogyna, Rubus saxatilis, Carex pilulifera, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Eurhynchium striatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum longisetum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila spinulosa, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Campanula rotundifolia, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria holostea, Pyrola minor, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Lathyrus montanus, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum pulchrum, Ajuga reptans, Teucrium scorodonia, Convallaria majalis, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Primula vulgaris, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W17 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Dicranum majus woodland

Matches 7 species from the description above: Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Teucrium scorodonia

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Juniperus communis, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Crataegus monogyna, Carex pilulifera, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Andreaea rupestris, Mnium hornum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranodontium denudatum, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Dicranum scottianum, Leucobryum glaucum, Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Eurhynchium striatum, Heterocladium heteropterum, Hylocomiastrum umbratum, Hylocomium armoricum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sematophyllum demissum, Sematophyllum micans, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Tetraphis pellucida, Adelanthus decipiens, Anastrepta orcadensis, Barbilophozia attenuata, Barbilophozia floerkei, Bazzania tricrenata, Bazzania trilobata, Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Frullania tamarisci, Fuscocephaloziopsis lunulifolia, Harpanthus scutatus, Jamesoniella autumnalis, Jungermannia gracillima, Lepidozia pearsonii, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Lophozia ventricosa, Marsupella emarginata, Microlejeunea ulicina, Mylia taylorii, Nowellia curvifolia, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila atlantica, Plagiochila killarniensis, Plagiochila porelloides, Plagiochila punctata, Plagiochila spinulosa, Ptilidium ciliare, Saccogyna viticulosa, Scapania gracilis, Scapania nemorea, Scapania umbrosa, Tritomaria exsectiformis, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia polydactyla, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia squamules, Cladonia subcervicornis, Parmelia saxatilis, Sphaerophorus fragilis, Sphaerophorus globosus, Solidago virgaurea, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cornus suecica, Hypericum pulchrum, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Goodyera repens, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris aemula, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Hymenophyllum tunbrigense, Hymenophyllum wilsonii, Polypodium vulgare, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 5 species from the description above: Fraxinus excelsior, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Teucrium scorodonia

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas