KNOWLE WOOD REPORT 27 AUGUST 2020 GRID REF: TQ872119

This report has been written to compare the species recorded in the Fairlight village part of Knowle Wood on 27 August 2020 with the original whole Wood survey of Knowle Wood on the 5 August 2014 both by Simon Young and Keith Palmer. In 2014 we recorded about 500 species of and as compared with about 300 in 2020. This may reflect on the much smaller survey area now in 2020 with greater public access as compared with the much larger areas of woodland with more Ancient Woodland in 2014.

BIRDS

Milvus milvus Red Kite Buteo buteo Buzzard Accipiter nisus Sparrow Hawk Columba oenas Stock Dove Strix alco Tawny Owl Picus viridis Green Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Greater Spotted Woodpecker Troglodytes troglodytes Wren Prunella modularis Dunnock Erithacus rubecula Robin Turdus philomelos Song Thrush Turdus viscivorus Mistle Thrush Turdus merula Blackbird Sylvia atricapilla Blackcap Sylvia borin Garden Warbler Phylloscopus collybita Chiffchaff Regulus regulus Periparus ater Coal Tit Parus caeruleus Blue Tit Parus major Great Tit Poecile palustris Marsh Tit Aegithalos caudatus Long-tailed Tit Sitta europaea Nuthatch Cethia familiaris Creeper Pica pica Magpie Garrulus glandarius Jay ( +young) Corvus monedula Jackdaw Corvus corone Carrion Crow Sturnus vulgaris Starling Passer domesticus House Sparrow Fringilla coelebs Chaffinch Carduelis carduelis Goldfinch

There were 53 bird species in 2014 and now 32 in 2020. Some birds which were recorded in 2014 such as Warbler, Wood Warbler and Nightingale have declined nationally but need more dense unmanaged scrub. No records of Green finch and Bullfinch either in 2020. However uncommon birds such as Tree Creeper and Marsh Tit nested in 2020 with success along with Nuthatch, Jay, Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Song Thrush. MAMMALS

Meles meles Badger Vulpes vulpes Fox Oryctolagus cuniculus Rabbit Sciurus carolinensis Grey Squirrel Apodemus sylvaticus Long-tailed field Mouse Pipistrellus pipistrellus Pipistrelle Bat

It was good to see Pipistrelle Bat feeding along the edges of the wood, but sad to find no evidence of Dormouse in this part of the wood.

REPTILES

Bufo bufo Toad Angus fragilis Slow Worm

Found along the edge of the woodland.

WOODLICE Ligdium hypnorum Woodlouse Armadillidium cinereum Pill Woodlouse

INSECTS

Tipulidae sp. Crane- Scaeva pyrastri Hoverfly

Beetles

Elateroidea sp. Click Beetle Lagria hirta Halyzia 16-guttata Orange ladybird Harmonia axyridis Harlequin Ladybird Ophion sp. Ichneuman sp. Phylloptha horticola Cockchafer

Dragonflies, Damselflies and Grasshoppers

Ischnura elegans Blue-tailed Damselfly Libellula depressa Broad-bodied Chaser Sympetrum striolatum Common Darter Meconema thalassinum Bush-cricket Platycleis albopunctata Grey Bush-cricket Chorthippus parallelus Meadow Grasshopper Forficula auricularia Common Earwig Bees and Wasps

Bombus lucorum White-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus lapidarius Red-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus humilis Broad-banded Carder Bee Apis mellifera Honey Bee Vespa crabro Hornet Vespula vulgaris Common Wasp Chrysis ignita Ruby-tail Wasp

With less scrub and Bramble fewer were found. But as the vegetation increases more insects will return.

SPIDERS

Opiliones sp. Opilio sp. Harvestmen

BUTTERFLIES

Ochlodes venata Large Skipper Brimstone Pieris brassicae Large White Anthocharis cardamines Orange Tip Pieris napi Green-veined White Pieris rapae Small White Polyommatus icarus Common Blue Celastrina argiolus Blue Lycaena phlaeas Small Copper Polygonum c-album Comma Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral Inachis io Peacock Pararge aegeria Speckled Wood Pyronia tithonus Gatekeeper Maniola jurtina Meadow Brown

22 butterflies were recorded in 2014 and now 15 but there are now fewer open sunlit areas with woodland .

MOTHS

Stigmella aurella (as mine on ) microtheriella (as leaf mine on Corylus) Phyllonorycter coryli (as leaf mine on Corylus) Eurrhypara hortulata Small Magpie Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Drepana binaria Oak Hook-tip Pyrausta aurata Mint Carcina quercana Cydalima perspectalis Boxworm Moth Orthopygia glaucinalis Blastobasis lacticolella aestivaria Habrosyne pyritoides Buff Arches Phalera bucephala Buff-tip fagi Lobster Moth Euproctis chrysorrhoea Brown-tail Miltochrista miniata Rosy Footman Ochropacha duplaris Common Lutestring Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell luteolata lunularia Lunar Thorn Ourapteryx sambucaria Swallow-tailed Moth Biston betularia Peppered Moth rhomboidaria Hyloicus pinastri Pine Hawk Moth Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk Moth Deilephila elpenor Elephant Hawkmoth Furcula furcula Sallow Kitten Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent Pheosia tremula Swallow Prominent Euproctis chrysorrhoea Brown-tail monacha Black Arches Eilema complana Scarce Footman lutea Buff Ermine Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart Axylia putris The Flame Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua interjecta Least Yellow Underwing Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic Melanchra persicariae Dot Moth Subacornicta megacephala Poplar Grey Acronicta psi/tridens Grey/Dark Dagger Craniophora ligustri Coronet Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches Hypena proboscidalis Snout Mesapamea secalis Common Rustic Pseudoips prasinaria britannica Green Silver-lines coryli Nut-tree Tussock revayana Oak Nycteoline Autographa gamma Silver Y Abrostola tripartita The Spectacle Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-Plume Moth Argyresthia brockeella mouffetella Chloroclystis v-ata V-pug Chrysoteuchia culmella angustiorana Eilema lurideola Common Footman Endotricha flammealis Eudonia mercurella Hoplodrina octogenaria The Uncertain punctinalis Pale Oak Beauty Nocuta janthina Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing Pammene regiana crataegella Hawthorn Moth Selenia tetralunaria Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot

Several in the list above are indicative of long-established mature woodland e.g. Lymantria monacha (Black Arches), Drepana binaria (Oak Hook-tip) and several of the “prominents”. A list of 70 species, many from a single night’s light trapping, represents a very healthy total especially since the night concerned was interrupted by some heavy downpours. Almost exactly the same number as in 2014! The extraordinary sight of seeing 30 beautiful Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk Moth) together with 25 Phalera bucephala (Buff Tip) in amongst 300 other moths.

DIPTERA

Aulagromyza cornigera Aulagromyza hendeliana (as leaf mine on )

Chromatomyia aprilina (as leaf mine on Lonicera periclymenum) Chromatomyia lonicerae (as leaf mine on Lonicera periclymenum) Liriomyza amoena (as leaf mine on ) Phytomyza ilicis (as leaf mine on Ilex)

All these species require understory and .

GALLS

Dasineura fraxinea ( midge on ) Andricus inflator (wasp) betuleti (Gall on Broad Buckler ) Parornix devoniella Phytopus avellanae (big bud on Corylus) Phyolirionyza melamphga (on Impatiens glanulifera)

LEAF MINE

Emmetia marginea micro moth Stigmella aurella micro moth Parornix anglicella micro moth

MITES: ACARI

Eriophyes similis (on spinosa) FRESHWATER ANIMALS

Turbellaria sp. Flat worms Nematoda sp. True Worms Hirudinea sp. Leeches Potamopyrgus (Hydrobia) jenkinsi Snails Asellus aquaticus Water Hoglouse Gammarus Freshwater Shrimp Baetidae sp. Swimming Mayfly Calopteryx sp. Demoiselle Nymph Gerridae sp. Pond Skater Notonecta sp. Water Boatman Tricoptera sp. Cassed Caddis Coleoptera sp. Water Beetle Eristalis sp. Rat Tailed Maggot Simulium sp. Blackfly Chironomidae sp. Non Biting Midge

The majority of these freshwater animals indicate the small streams in Knowle Wood are clean and unpolluted. Declines in water quality would be reflected in declines in their abundance and number.

WOOD POND

Daphnia sp. Chironomus Culex sp. Diptera sp. Eristalis tenax Rat Tailed Maggot Hyphydrus sp. Beetle

All these freshwater invertebrates disappeared when the pond eventually dried up in the summer.

WILD FLOWERS

Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus bulbous Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus ficaria Lesser Celandine Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone Cardamine pratensis Lady's Smock Viola reichenbachiana Early Dog-violet Silene dioica Red Campion Stellaria holostea Greater Stitchwort Oxalis acetosella Wood Sorrel Geranium robertianum Herb Robert Impatiens glandulifera Indian Balsam Sanicula europaea Sanicle Ulex europaeus Gorse Circaea lutetiana Enchanter's Nightshade Lonicera periclymenum Wild Strawberry Rubus fruticosus Bramble Blackberry Wood Avens Rosa canina canina Dog helix Ivy Smyrnium olusatrum Alexanders Mercurialis perennis Dog's Mercury Euphorbia amygdaloides Wood Spurge acetosa Common Sorrel Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leafed Dock Rumex sanguineum Wood Dock androsaemum Tutsan dioica Stinging Nettle Primula vulgaris Primrose rubrum Red Currant Myosotis sylvatica Wood Forget-me-not Lamium purpureum Red Dead-nettle Lamiastrum galeobdolon Yellow Archangel

This last is usually an indicator of 'Ancient Woodland' The cut off point for Ancient Woodland is AD 1600. Other species which we found such as Pendulous Sedge, Wood Spurge, Wood Anemone, Dog's Mercury and Wood-sorrel would also probably indicate ancient woodland but seeing several of them in the same place would practically guarantee it.

Calystegia sepium Bindweed Anchusa officianalis Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens Green Alkanet Scrophularia nodosa Common Figwort Digitalis purpurea Foxglove Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell Veronica hederifolia ssp. lucorum Ivy-leaved Speedwell Galium aparine Cleavers Iris foetidissima Stinking Iris Tamus communis Black Byrony lanceolata Ribwort Plantain Plantago major Greater Plantain Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Sambucus nigra Elder Lapsana communis Nipplewort Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle Leontodon autumnalis Autumn Hawkbit Hypochaeris radicata Cat's-ear jacobaea Common Ragwort Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell Epipactis purpurata Violet Helleborine

56 wild flowers were recorded but only 45 were recorded in 2014 in a much larger area. Some flowers recorded this time are quite scarce such as Sanicula europaea (Sanicle), a beautiful herb. It's name 'sanicle' is derived from the Latin word 'sanus' meaning 'healthy' relating to its value as a medicinal plant. Another plant not found in 2014 is Epipactis purpurata (Violet Helleborine) another uncommon plant which was found in several sites.

GRASSES

Melica uniflora Wood Melick Poa pratensis Smooth Meadow-grass Brachypodium sylvaticum Slender False Brome Dactylis glomerata Cocksfoot Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal Grass Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog Holcus mollis Creeping Soft Grass Agrostis capillaris Common Bent Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent Alopecurus pratensis Meadow Foxtail

RUSHES AND SEDGES

Juncus bufonius Toad Rush Carex pendula Pendulous Sedge Carex sylvatica Wood Sedge

FERNS

Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Phyllitis scolopendrium Hartstongue Polystichum aculeatum Hard Shield-fern Polystichum setiferum Soft Sheild-fern dilatata Broad Buckler-fern

TREES

Betula pendula Silver Castunea sativa Sweet

In the past, Sweet were planted and coppiced in large quantities in South East England for charcoal manufacture, which was used extensively in metal working. Sussex still is a major area for chestnut coppice today where chestnut is used for stakes, gateposts, post and rail and paling fencing. Looking at the tree rings on Chestnut cut stools in Knowle Wood they appear to have been coppiced just after the last war, about 60-70 years ago.

Quercus robur English Oak sylvestris Crab Prunus laurocerasus Cherry Laurel Prunus lusitanica Portugal Laurel Ilex aquifolium Common Holly Aesculus hippocastanum Horse Chestnut europaea Common Lime Fraxinus excelsior Ash FUNGI

Stereum hirsutum Auricularia auricula-judae Ear Fungus Daldinia concentrica King Alfred’s Cakes Diatrype stigma

This is a small fungi list; the “bio-blitz” took place at high summer before the main autumnal flush of fungi. Given the wide variety of trees within Knowle Wood and the fact that each tree species has its own “dedicated” fungal associations, along with general woodland fungi species, the species tally for the wood would be likely to be quite high; this could be determined by a timely autumn visit following a period of steady rain.

LICHENS

Cliostomum griffithii (on Quercus) Enterographa crassa (large patches on Quercus)

This lichen and Graphis scripta can be used as indicators of 'Ancient Countryside and Ancient Woodland'. Vital to protect.

Diplocia canescens Evernia prunastri (on Quercus, )

This lichen and Usnea Cornuta are key lichens indicating clean unpolluted air.

Flavoparmelia caperata (on Quercus) Graphis scripta (on Fraxinus) Hypotrachyna revoluta (on Quercus) Lecanora chlarotera (on Quercus) Lecanora expallens (on Quercus) Lecidella elaeochroma (on Fraxinus) Lepraria incana (on Castanea sativa, Betula, ) Melanelixia fuliginosa (on Quercus) Melanelixia glabratula (on Prunus spinosa) Micarea denigrata (on Fraxinus) Parmelia sulcata (on Prunus spinosa) Parmotrema perlatum (on Quercus)

Common and on some trees covering considerable areas of the trunk in well-illuminated spots. A pollution sensitive species this lichen Parmotrema perlatum, having thirty years ago been well-nigh absent from south-east England, has returned with a vengeance, with the advent of cleaner air, and is now a frequent constituent of our woodland lichen flora.

Pertusaria hymenea (on Castanea sativa, Quercus) Physcia adscendens (on Prunus spinosa) Physcia tenella (on Quercus) Physcia aipolia Pyrenula chlorospila (on Quercus) Ramalina farinacea (on Prunus spinosa) Ramalina fastigiata (on Prunus spinosa) Usnea cornuta (on Quercus) Xanthoria parietina (on Prunus spinosa)

24 lichens were recorded in 2020 and 34 in 2014. Some may have been lost with the removal of old trees and being recorded in a much smaller location. also Trentepohlia as a free-living alga

MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS

Metzgeria furcata ( clean air areas) Mnium hornum

CONCLUSION

This wonderful diverse woodland must be managed carefully with everyone involved both young and old. So many children love exploring this woodland. It has so many unusual plants and animals and it is our heritage.