Tarbert Woods

General site character

• Shingle, Sea cliffs, Islets (NaN%)
  
• Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (1.2%)
  
• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (8%)
  
• Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (32.8%)
  
• Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (12%)
  
• Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (46%)
  

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• 91A0 Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles

  Tarbert Woods comprises a large coastal strip of fragmented broad-leaved woodland with good stands of old sessile oak woods, which are very important for their oceanic bryophyte communities. The numerous streams which traverse the site have in places cut deep ravines, and together with the sheltered north-east aspect these provide very humid conditions which support thriving populations of ferns and bryophytes. Amongst the 180 bryophyte species recorded are 47 Atlantic species, including Sematophyllum micans and Plagiochila atlantica. The woodland rises in altitude from sea level up to 150 m within around 450 m of the coast, and as a consequence shows marked community zonation. The lower slopes are dominated by oak-birch Quercus-Betula woodland, and downy birch Betula pubescens is the dominant tree throughout the woods with little sign of past management specifically as oak woodland, except around old settlements. Ash Fraxinus excelsior woodland is associated with many of the streams and ravines where more base-rich conditions prevail, whilst areas of alder and willow occur near the coast.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

• Not Applicable

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

• Not Applicable