Notes on the Natural Regeneration of Woodland in Essex

Abstract

THE purpose of the following notes is principally to draw the attention of plant ecologists to the region of high ground around Danbury in Essex, between Chelmsford and Maldon, which is of considerable interest in providing an unusually complete series of stages in the natural regeneration of forest communities, and of which no ecological description appears to exist. The village of Danbury may be taken as the centre of an area remarkable for the general and rapid regeneration of natural woodland (Ordnance Survey 1 in. map, No. 108). This natural regeneration of woodland occurs on the summit and slopes of a ridge which rises from 300 to 350 ft. above sea-level. The summit of the ridge, which exceeds 300 ft. in altitude, forms a narrow strip running north and south for a distance of about 2 miles. The ground falls away from this on all sides. The areas where forest regeneration occurs are covered by glacial sand, loam and clay associated with the boulder clay, and lie on the ridge itself or on the slopes, but are all above the 200 ft. contour line. On this elevated ground are several areas of common land, of unoccupied land, and of neglected pasture. To the south is Danbury Common: Lingwood Common is near the centre of the area: to the north-east is Woodham Walton Common. The estates of Riffam's and of Danbury Park contain several tracts of unutilised pasture. Of these areas Danbury Common and Lingwood Common are real common lands over which grazing rights exist and are exercised. Woodham Walton Common is a common only in name. Though crossed by rights of way it is privately owned and not used for grazing. The remaining areas are also private property. The soil varies from very heavy clay to a flint gravel with every stage of transition. The different types of soil occur on closely adjacent areas. On the ridge much of the clay soil becomes very wet and water-logged in the winter. In a general way the valleys and the flat-topped ridges have the heavier soils, the slopes the'lighter. In this area true woQdland vegetation is not very abundant, though several examples occur. Much of the portion marked green on the Ordnance Survey map is developing rather than established woodland. The woodlands are of oak standards, associated with birch on light soils, and with hornbeam and locally hazel coppice on the heavier. These woods belong to the Quercus sessiliflora-Carpinus type described by Salisbury for Hertfordshire (cf. This JOURN. 6, 14, 1918). While Q. sessiliflora is much the more abundant tree, Q. robur is also present.