Wood-pasture and Parkland
Wood-pasture and parklands were created by historic land management involving grazing. They consist of a mosaic of habitats including veteran trees, grazed grassland, heathland and/or woodland plants.
Photo: Laurie Jackson
Why is it important?
- The mosaic of habitats and dead-wood make wood-pasture and parkland hugely important for invertebrates, lichens and fungi.
- Parklands are more common in the UK than anywhere else in Europe, and many are of an ancient origin.
- Veteran trees provide holes and crevices used by bats and birds.
- Sussex has the majority of the UK’s mature English Elms following the loss of millions to Dutch Elm Disease.
Wood-pasture and Parkland in Sussex
Sussex is rich in wood-pasture and parkland with several large old deer parks.
What are the threats?
- Isolation and fragmentation of the remaining parklands.
- Inappropriate grazing resulting loss of plant diversity and habitat structure.
- Agricultural intensification including reseeding, ploughing and use of fertilisers.
- Neglect and loss of veteran trees, and over tidying of deadwood.
Some associated species
*Serotine Eptesicus serotinus
- Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Picoides minor
- Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus
- Common Woodlouse Oniscus asellus
- Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur
- Stinking Hellebore Helleborus foetidus
Photo: Paul Marten/Sussex Wildlife Trust
Where to visit
Stanmer Park
St Leonard’s Forest
Sussex Targets
Biodiversity Action Reporting System Website
