Marline Valley Woods

Also within

East Sussex County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Sandstone

Description

Area, 55.0 ha. 135.82 ac. Description These ancient woodlands on Wadhurst Clay and Lower Tunbridge Wells sandstone are dominated by a nationally uncommon woodland type. A valuable feature of the site is the steep sided stream valley ghyll which contains plants that have an 'Atlantic' distribution. The site also includes an area of species rich unimproved grassland, a nationally declining habitat. The nationally uncommon pedunculate oak hornbeam birch hazel variant woodland type dominates the woods. There is some variation in composition due to local differences in drainage, soil type, slope and management. There is a history of management under the coppice with standards system. The ghyll has been created by vigorous downcutting of the stream through the soft sandstones which underlie the Wadhurst clay. It has a moist and warm microclimate which favours 'Atlantic' plants, now restricted in Britain to the Weald and the west of the country. Standards of pedunculate oak Quercus robur are widespread throughout above coppice of hornbeam Carpinus betulus and, less commonly, hazel Corylus avellana or sweet chestnut Castanea sativa. There are scattered stands of birch Betula pendula, ash Fraxinus excelsior, field maple Acer campestre and beech Fagus sylvatica. Alder Alnus glutinosa occurs discontinuously along the stream valley and in small flushes which drain into the stream. Occasional stands of alder coppice are present. Active coppicing has generally reduced the shrub layer but holly Ilex aquifolium is locally common and two shrubs associated with ancient woodland are present, butcher's broom Ruscus aculeatus and midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata. The ground flora varies with the current state of management, but honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana, dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta and wood avens Geum urbanum are often abundant. The stream valley and lateral flushes support a flora of pendulous sedge Carex pendula, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. Two wide rides have been cut through Marline Wood and are dominated by tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa with bramble Rubus fruticosus. The stream valley supports 61 species of bryophytes mosses and liverworts including three uncommon 'Atlantic' species, Fissidens rivularis, Tetrodontium brownianum and Metzgeria furcata. Other plants of the ghyll area include soft shield fern Polystichum setiferum and broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata. The agriculturally unimproved pasture supports a species rich neutral grassland flora, dominated by lesser knapweed Centaurea nigra, red fescue Festuca rubra and common bent Agrostis capillaris. Other species adding to the interest of the pasture include adder's tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, dyer's greenweed Genista tinctoria, quaking grass Briza media and common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii.

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.

Plant communities