Woolmer Forest

General site character

• Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (2%)
  
• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (4%)
  
• Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (62%)
  
• Dry grassland, Steppes (10%)
  
• Coniferous woodland (22%)
  

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

• 3160 Natural dystrophic lakes and ponds

  Within Woolmer Forest, Cranmer Pond is a southern example of a dystrophic pond in an area of 4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix and 7150 Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion. The 8 ha pond is thought to originate from peat-cutting, and has an average depth of 1 m. The aquatic flora is comprised of bulbous rush Juncus bulbosus var. fluitans, which grows submerged and forms dense mats at the margins, and bog-mosses Sphagnum spp. which grow in shallower areas. To the north and south of Cranmer Pond are areas of 7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs.

• 4030 European dry heaths

  Woolmer Forest contains the largest and most diverse area of lowland heathland in Hampshire, outside the New Forest, representing a transition between this and the Surrey heaths. Dry heaths in Woolmer Forest include examples of NVC type H1b Calluna vulgaris – Festuca ovina heath, Hypogymnia physodes – Cladonia impexa sub-community, dominated by heather Calluna vulgaris and Cladonia lichens. Most of the dry heath is H2 Calluna vulgaris – Ulex minor, characterised by dwarf gorse Ulex minor. Woolmer Forest is the only site in Britain that supports all six native reptiles (including the Annex IV species sand lizard Lacerta agilis and smooth snake Coronella austriaca) and all six native amphibians (including 1166 great crested newt Triturus cristatus). It also supports an outstanding invertebrate fauna and bird assemblage, including European nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, wood lark Lullula arborea, Dartford warbler Sylvia undata, Eurasian hobby Falco subbuteo, hen harrier Circus cyaneus and merlin Falco columbarius.

• 7150 Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion

  In this west Wealden site, seepage mires and other waterlogged areas are a minor feature amongst predominantly wet heath habitat. Seepages are fed from a mix of acidic and calcareous sources, and give rise to a series of pool and hummock structures within the mire. The Rhynchospora alba occurs within NVC type M21 Narthecium ossifragum – Sphagnum papillosum mire. It includes a range of bog-mosses Sphagnum spp., cottongrasses Eriophorum angustifolium and E. vaginatum, bog asphodel Narthecium ossifragum, cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos and the rare marsh clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata.

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

• 4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix
• 7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs

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