Flora and Fauna
The Forest Recreation Ground supports many important habitats and species. Mature trees include Turkey, English Elm, Common Oak, Sessile Oak, Rowan, Silver Birch, Common Lime and Horse Chestnut. Additionally, there have been more recent plantings of London Plane, Beech, various Maples and Silver Lime. Perennials include Autumn Crocus, Spring Crocus, Bluebell, Ransom, Primrose, Wild Privet, Hazel and Guilder Rose.
Certain parts of the Forest play host to relic meadow flora such as Meadow Foxtail, Smooth-stalked Meadowgrass, Yorkshire Fog, Red Clover, White Clover, Oxeye Daisy, Germander Speedwell and Meadow Saxifrage.
With such an abundance of habitat, the Forest attracts many birds such as Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Mistle Thrush, Tawny Owl, Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Chaffinch.
The caves of the Rock Cemetery are a Geological County Wildlife Site. The thin turf here supports Early and Silver Hair Grass, Harebells, Birdsfoot and Prickly Sedge. Conspicuous insects include Holy Blue and Clouded Yellow butterflies, Hornets and Cock Chafer beetles.
Read more about this topic: Forest Recreation Ground
Famous quotes containing the words flora and/or fauna:
“A man’s interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The whole fauna of human fantasies, their marine vegetation, drifts and luxuriates in the dimly lit zones of human activity, as though plaiting thick tresses of darkness. Here, too, appear the lighthouses of the mind, with their outward resemblance to less pure symbols. The gateway to mystery swings open at the touch of human weakness and we have entered the realms of darkness. One false step, one slurred syllable together reveal a man’s thoughts.”
—Louis Aragon (1897–1982)