Westerham Wood facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Kent |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 43.2 hectares (107 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Westerham Wood is a special forest area in Kent, England. It covers about 43.2 hectares, which is like 80 football fields! This wood is protected because it's home to many different plants, animals, and tiny living things. It's officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI for short.
Contents
What Makes Westerham Wood Special?
Westerham Wood is a very old forest, filled with strong oak trees. These trees grow on a type of soil called Gault Clay. For a long time, people have taken care of this wood in a traditional way. This helps all the different plants and animals that live there.
A Home for Nature
This special wood is bursting with life!
- Plants: The ground beneath the trees has many different kinds of plants. This is called a diverse ground flora.
- Birds: Lots of different birds choose Westerham Wood to build their nests and raise their young. It's a great place for birdwatching!
- Insects: You can find many types of insects here too. They play an important role in the wood's ecosystem.
- Tiny Organisms: Scientists have found 77 different types of bryophytes. Bryophytes are small, simple plants like mosses and liverworts. They have also recorded almost 300 different kinds of fungus species.
Why is it a Site of Special Scientific Interest?
Westerham Wood was named a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1986. This means it's one of the best places in the country for its wildlife and natural features. The government protects these areas to make sure they stay healthy and full of life for future generations.
Visiting Westerham Wood
It's important to know that Westerham Wood is on private land. This means there is no public access to the wood. Even though you can't visit inside, knowing about places like this helps us understand how important it is to protect nature.
