Fore Wood

Also within

East Sussex County High Weald Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Habitats

Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Sandstone

Landscape processes: Coastal

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Area, 21.5 ha. 52.6 ac. Description The interest of this particular area is twofold; it includes one of only 5 East Sussex examples of ghyll woodland a habitat which is otherwise restricted to the Atlantic coast of Britain and it contains a rich breeding community which includes hawfinch, woodcock and greater woodpecker. The wood itself is rather variable and much modified in places. Areas of neglected pedunculate oak Quercus robur with hornbeam Carpinus betulus coppice also contain ash Fraxinus excelsior and birch Betula pendula above a sparse ground flora of ivy Hedera helix and bramble Rubus fruticosus. Some areas have been thinned and shrubs, particularly hazel Corylus avellana encouraged. Systematic clearing of old sweet chestnut Castanea sativa coppice has also taken place in order to promote oak high forest. In these thinned and cleared areas bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta, enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana and honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum forma dense ground flora. The wood contains examples of Sussex ghylls. These steep ravines have been created by the vigorous down cutting of streams into the sandstone. Alder Alnus glutinosa and ash Fraxinus excelsior trees form a closed canopy and help create an unusual micro climate which is more typical of the western shores of the UK. Thus several 'Atlantic' plant species are found here including three rare mosses and the hay scented buckler fern Dryopteris aemula. Greater wood rush Luzula sylvatica and hard fern Blechnum spicant are more common 'Atlantic' species. In addition to the modification of woodland type and the planting of trees and shrubs to attract birds, several glades and a pond have also been created. As yet the bird life is not of exceptional quality but can be expected to improve considerably. At present breeding birds of note include hawfinch, sparrowhawk, woodcock, cuckoo, tawny owl, greater spotted woodpecker, nuthatch and willow tit.

Species mentioned

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.

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.