Title
South British beech forests (Fagus sylvatica), alternating with pedunculate oak-ash forests (Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus robur), both with Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Rubus fruticosus
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Great Britain: southeast England
area frequency
9 polygons .
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
W10 Quercus robur-Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus woodland (Rodwell 1991); W14Fagus sylvatica-Rubus fruticosus woodland (Rodwell 1991).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Tall forest, the tree layer of which is dominated in a mosaic fashion by oaks (usually Quercus robur, locally Quercus petraea) and beeches. In addition Tilia cordata, Carpinus betulus and Castanea sativa (naturalised), Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus (naturalised) occur occasionally (they can also be amply represented in parts within low forests). In the lower tree layer the oak only occurs extensively when Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus laevigata, Ilex aquifolium and sometimes Sorbus aucuparia and Sambucus nigra appear. Amongst the beeches only the shade-tolerant shrub Ilex aquifolium is represented at a greater frequency and at a high degree of coverage. In the spring, Hyacinthoides non-scripta is the characteristic dominant species in the herb layer which contains acidophilous and meso-eutrophic species.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica, predominating, admixed Quercus robur, isolated Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus, Tilia cordata, Carpinus betulus
Shrub layer
Ilex aquifolium, Corylus avellana
Lianas
Lonicera periclymenum, Hedera helix, Rubus fruticosus
Herb layer
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Melica uniflora, Galium odoratum, Milium effusum, Luzula pilosa, Oxalis acetosella, Holcus mollis, Pteridium aquilinum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Mnium hornum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans
Diagnostically important species
Fagus sylvatica; Ilex aquifolium; Luzula pilosa, Milium effusum, Melica uniflora, Galium odoratum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
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Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Mosaic with Carpinion-forests and Alno-Ulmion forests in water-spring areas.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
soil-acidic oak forests (F2, F3), oak-ash forests (F31, F32), species-rich beech forests (F105), salt vegetation (P23), alluvial and moist forests (U7, U28).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
beech, Quercus spp., Fraxinus spp. and Acer pseudoplatanus plantations, low forest usage (usually Corylus avellana, now and again Tilia spp., Carpinus betulus or Castanea sativa); false acacia and Prunion scrub.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Manured Cynosurion grassland, traditional Cynosurion pastures; Arrhenatherion, Holco-Juncion stands; Pteridium aquilinum stands on lighter soils.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Cereals; Chenopodietea, Plantaginetea, Artemisietea and Atropion communities.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
In smaller settlements there are Artemisietea and Plantaginetea communities.
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Within lowlands characteristic for shallow or slightly undulating river valleys or low lying plains.
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland-colline; mostly below 180 m
Geology (bedrock)
clay, slate or alluvia (Tertiary, Cretaceous)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
(eutric and dystric cambisols; orthic luvisols)
soil texture
loamy to clayey, locally sandy with raw humus layer
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moist
soil reaction
moderately to weakly acidic
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic to meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
V(IV), VI1b, VI(V)2, VI1(IV)
average annual temperature
9-10 EC
average annual precipitation
600-1000 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 17-19 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
February 2-3 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
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Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Older stands with a rich tree and shrub flora are particularly attractive for nature conservation purposes.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Beech-dominated stands with floristic rarities; e. g. Epipactis purpurata.
causes of endangerment
Stand transformation by plantation, heavy recreational use, disruptions, waste disposal, wind damage, damage of beech upgrowths by squirrels.
required measures for protection and restitution
Promotion of natural regeneration.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Great Britain: Cotswold Commons, beech forests in Chiltern, New Forest and many National Trust- and locally nature reserves.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
Species-rich unfertilized Cynosurion-meadows and Arrhenatherion-grassland in regions mentioned above.
Most important references (author, year)
Avery 1958; Peterken 1981; Rackham 1980; Tubbs 1968; Watt 1934; Watt & Tansley 1930
Compiled by
John S. Rodwell
