Orlestone Forest

Also within

Kent County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Area, 337.7 ha. 834.4 ac. Description This large ancient woodland site near Ham Street is an important invertebrate locality of national significance. Several hundred invertebrate mainly insect species have been found there, including 39 nationally rare species listed in the British Red Data Books, two insects and 134 nationally scarce species. Several species are known in Britain only from this locality. Traditional woodland management on this site has given rise to broadleaved woodland crossed by wide herb rich grassy rides, with a number of marshy areas and pools. This traditional pattern has been severely altered in the last 40 years by modern forestry techniques; large areas have been clear felled and replanted, resulting in dense conifer woodland of limited conservation interest. However, the diverse native woodland has survived in many areas in strips along rides, which together with the rides themselves and tall scrubby vegetation in young plantations provide the wide variety of inter connecting micro habitats needed by the many different invertebrate species. In addition the storm of October 1987 felled large areas of mature conifers, leaving open areas available for the natural regeneration of native woodland. Broadleaved woodland within the site is mainly composed of oak Quercus robur and hornbeam Carpinus betulus with other trees including sallows Salix caprea and Salix cinerea, aspen Populus tremula, birches Betula pendula and Betula pubescens, field maple Acer campestre and wild service tree Sorbus torminalis. The woodland floor supports bramble Rubus fruticosus, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, primrose Primula vulgaris and yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon. A large number of the scarcest species of invertebrate feed specifically on the foliage of several of the broadleaved trees and shrubs, the most significant of which are aspen and oak. The animals associated with aspen are exceptional, the lesser belle moth Colobochyla salicalis not found elsewhere in Britain and a rare micro moth Nephopteryx hostilis feed on the foliage. A scarce longhorn beetle Saperda populnea causes galls on aspen stems, which are also inhabited by a rare micro moth Cydia corallana. A rare weevil Dorytomus rubrirostris, which feeds in aspen catkins has only been recorded in one other place in Britain recently. The foliage of oak supports a rare micromoth Elegia similella, the rare orange upper wing moth Jodia croceago, the rare 'scarce merveille du jour' moth Moma alpium and the rare dark and light crimson under wing moths, Catocala promissa and Catocala sponsa as well as a rare sawfly Pamphilius sylvarum. Other trees and shrubs support a rare leaf beetle Crococephalus sexpunctatus and the rare triangle moth Heterogenea asella. Many invertebrate species are dependent upon a variety of dead wood habitats and at Orlestone rare species include a jewel beetle Agrilus viridis, the beetles Tropideres sepicola, Tropideres niveirostris, Platypus cylindricus, Tomoxia bucephala and Orthocis coluber and a flat bug Aradus aterrimus. Ponds and wet areas in the clay soils of the woodland support a further important range of species. The water beetle Limnebius crinifer has not been found elsewhere in Britain, and other rare species include the great silver water beetle Hydrophilus piceus, the water beetle Hydrovatus clypealis and a cranefly Molophilus lackschewitzianus. Scarce species include a northern heathland water beetle Acilus canaliculatus and 17 others. The rides and open areas within the woodland provide sheltered feeding areas for animals living in the surrounding woodland and also support many species directly. The vegetation is acidic grassland, dominated by common bent Agrostis capillaris and creeping soft grass Holcus mollis, with many broadleaved herbs including lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica, ling heather Calluna vulgaris and devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis. Invertebrates dependent on these habitats include an exceptional number associated with golden rod Solidago virgaurea including the rare micro moth Platyptilia calodactyla. Other invertebrates of these open areas include the toad flax brocade moth Calophasia lunula and a solitary wasp Symmorphus connexus; many scarce species include pear bordered fritillary butterfly Boloria euphrosyne living at the edge of rides. The wide variety of habitats within the site also supports a diverse bird community, breeding species include lesser spotted woodpecker Dryobates minor, nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos, hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes, crossbill Loxia curvirostra and woodcock Scolopax rusticola.

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.