Title
South British beech forests (Fagus sylvatica) with Taxus baccata and Cephalanthera species
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Great Britain: southeast England
area frequency
19 polygons .
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
W12 Fagus sylvatica-Mercurialis perennis woodland (Rodwell 1991).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
High forests with a tree layer 15-20 m tall which are dominated by Fagus sylvatica and sometimes Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aria and species of earlier succession stages. Taxus baccata frequently forms a distinctive second tree layer. The shrub layer is sparse, but Ilex aquifolium is particularly characteristic. The herb layer is sometimes sparsely developed, but above a carpet of Hedera helix, Mercurialis perennis and other herbs can be strongly represented. Rubus fruticosus is heavily developed only rarely. Skeletal-rich soils feature striking aspects of geophytes. Bryophytes are only poorly represented both regarding species number and degree of coverage.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica predominating, admixed Fraxinus excelsior, in the underwood Taxus baccata, Sorbus aria
Shrub layer
Ilex aquifolium, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Acer campestre, Sambucus nigra
Lianas
Hedera helix, (on more open sites) Tamus communis, Clematis vitalba, Bryonia dioica
Herb layer
Mercurialis perennis, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Hedera helix, Viola reichenbachiana, Circaea lutetiana, Arum maculatum, Galium odoratum, Sanicula europaea, Mycelis muralis, Melica uniflora, Bromus ramosus, Rumex sanguineus, Geranium robertianum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Fagus sylvatica, Taxus baccata; Buxus sempervirens, Daphne laureola; Cephalanthera damasonium, Cephalanthera longifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Epipactis helleborine, Neottia nidus-avis, Monotropa hypopitys, Epipogium aphyllum, Mercurialis perennis, Arum maculatum, Sanicula europaea
Ecological variants
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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)
The unit includes very locally occurring Taxus dominated Cephalanthero-Fagion forests on warm, dry chalk slopes. Within them Buxus sempervirens sometimes occurs and they possess an extremely interspersed herb layer consisting of calciphilous species. The unit also interdigitates closely with the Galio odorati-Fagion as well as Carpinion forests on less lime-rich habitats.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
mixed pedunculate oak-ash forests (F32), species-rich beech forests (F104), alluvial and moist forests (U7, U28).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Traditional beechwood use whereby selective management of the stands was practised. In the open landscape of the lowlands ornamental plantations or wind-braking plantations were established. Newer plantations consist frequently of short-lived forests of coniferous trees which are treated intensively with fertilisers and herbicides. Forest clearing vegetation of the Atropion; the succession leads via Berberidion scrub with Crataegus monogyna, Ligustrum vulgare, Viburnum lantana, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis and lianas to Carpinion forests dominated by a mixture of Fraxinus and Quercus.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Mesobromion grassland.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
The substrate is generally too steep and rocky to be used as arable land, but some areas were tilled during times of national emergency. The weed flora is frequently of an Atropion type.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
The substrate is too steep for settlements.
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Steep limestone slopes in hilly lowlands
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland-colline; usually below150 m
Geology (bedrock)
limestone (Cretaceous)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
rendzines and lime-riche brown soils, with mull as humus form; (rendzic leptosols; calcic cambisols)
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry to very dry
soil fertility
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)
Some stands are recognized as worthy of protection, others are owned by non-governmental nature conservation societies, but many of the stands are of a low wood quality.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Due to its limited distribution, its species-richness (especially on stony ground), which includes some floristic rarities, and its share in the characteristic of the landscape, the unit has a hugh conservational value; as especially interesting species among others Tilia platyphyllos, Buxus sempervirens, Daphne laureola as well as Cephalanthera damasonium, Cephalanthera longifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Epipactis helleborine, Neottia nidus-avis, Monotropa hypopitys, Epipogium aphyllum do occur.
causes of endangerment
Clearing, timber harvesting, heavy recreational use, wind damage from storms.
required measures for protection and restitution
Promotion of the regeneration of the tree layer and establishment of clearings.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Great Britain: Cotswold Commons, some National Trust- and locally conservation areas with Taxus-forests in the Kingley-valley and Old Winchester Hill.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
Mesobromion-pastures and Berberidion-scrubs in regions mentioned above.
Most important references (author, year)
Adamson 1921; Barkham & Norris 1967; McNeil 1961; Moss, Rankin & Tansley 1910; Peterken 1981; Rackham 1980; Tansley 1939; Tansley & Rankin 1911; Watt 1924; Watt 1934
Compiled by
John S. Rodwell
