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Tudeley Woods RSPB Reserve and Pembury Heath INTRODUCTION Welcome to the RSPB's Tudeley Woods Nature Reserve. As one of the south-east's largest working woods this is an excellant place to see woodland wildlife. The RSPB, in partnership with Tudeley's private owners, uses traditional woodland management techniques which produce wood products and increase the woodland's wildlife value. The
reserve is just to the south of Tonbridge, off the A21. Grid ref. TQ616433 TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT Broadleaved woodlands such as Tudeley were once
widespread throughout south-east England when there was a demand for wood
products. Wood was harvested by a technique called coppicing, which is good for
wildlife. When the trees are cut down to a short stump, flowers
and butterflies thrive in the sunny temporary clearings. Growth from the stumps
provides an ideal habitat, after two or three years, for thrushes, finches,
warblers and nightingales. After eight to 10 years the thickets are overgrown
and ideal for dormice. The area is ready to be coppiced again after 15 years. Coppicing used to produce wood for many cottage
industries, such as hurdle making. As there is no longer a large demand for such
products, the practice of coppicing has declined and many woods are no longer
managed. The RSPB is finding new outlets for the wood produced by coppicing. At
Tudeley we make barbecue charcoal and sell wood for wood turning and split rail
fencing. MATURE WOODLAND Some parts of Tudeley Wood are not coppiced. The trees
are left to mature before being felled for timber. This mature woodland is an,
ideal place for birds such as nuthatches and woodpeckers. Some trees are left
beyond maturity to decay naturally. The decaying wood provides a rich source of
food for birds, and woodpeckers find the soft wood easy to excavate their nest
holes in. All three species of woodpeckers found in the UK breed
here. The smallest is the sparrow sized lesser spotted woodpecker. The larger
great spotted woodpecker is more common. Largest are the green woodpeckers which
feed on the meadow and nest in the wood. OTHER HABITATS Woodland is not the only habitat found at Tudeley
Woods. There are several ponds on the reserve, providing drinking places for
birds and other wild animals. In the spring and summer dragonflies and
damselflies can be seen hunting over the water. Deep sided streams run through
the wood. These damp, shady places are ideal for ferns ` and mosses. Alder
trees, which thrive in such places, grow along the banks and their seeds are
winter food for redpolls and siskins. There is also an area of meadow on the reserve. It is
managed for its flowers and insects. In the summer, the meadow is alive with
butterflies such as meadow browns, gatekeepers and large and small skippers. WHEN ON THE RESERVE LOOK OUT
FOR . . . In the spring (March to May) • The return of warblers such as chiffchaffs and
willow warblers. • Primroses and bluebells in the woods. Woodpeckers
drumming. In the summer (June to August) White admiral and speckled wood butterflies in the
woodland. Southern hawker dragonflies. Charcoal being made. In the autumn (September to November) • Many types of fungi. • The berries of guelder rose, hawthorn and
blackberry. • Flocks of finches feeding on seed heads in the old
meadow. In the winter (December to February) Redwings and fieldfares roosting. Hunting sparrowhawks. • Parts of the wood being coppiced. Tudeley Woods reserve is managed by the RSPB in
agreement with the Trustees of the Goldsmid Estate. In 1994 the reserve was
granted a Forestry Authority Centre of Excellence award. The RSPB is committed to minimising the environmental
impact of transport. When visiting our nature reserves please consider using
public transport or a bicycle. if you do use a car, please try to share it with
others. If you would like more information or wish to arrange
a group visit, contact the warden at Crown House Petteridge Lane, Matfield, Tonbridge, Kent TN12 MT.
Pembury Heathland Walk
INTRODUCTION Pembury Heath is just to the south of Tudeley Woods and so a visit to both sites is perfectly feasable in one day. The waymarked trail You can walk the trail in either direction - just
follow the bird waymarks! Walkers can join the route at any point, there are
several public footpaths and lanes which link with the Pembury Heathland Walk. Lowland Heath Much of Britain's lowland heath has been lost over the
last century to roads, housing developments and forestry. At Pembury we are
attempting to restore this fragile habitat to its former condition. This
requires the removal of planted trees followed by a programme of management to
prevent birch and bracken from dominating the open ground. In the past, most
heathlands were common ground which were kept as open spaces by grazing
livestock, and by cutting trees and gorse for fuel. Look for typical heathland plants such as heather
(ling) and bilberry in the drier, sandy areas. A small amount of the two scarcer
heathers occur along the walk. These are bell heather found on dry banks, and
cross-leaved heath, a plant of damp, boggy sites. Extensive areas of open heathland are attractive to
nightjars. You may be lucky enough to hear their unusual 'churring' song late on
a summer's evening. Other heathland birds likely to be encountered are the
attractive stonechat with its bright black, white and chestnut plumage, and the
drabber tree pipit which sings whilst 'parachuting' from the tops of isolated
trees. Conifer Plantation Scots pine and larch have been planted on the site
since at least 1920 and have previously been harvested for planking, fence posts
and more recently for woodchip. This forestry process continues and the woodland
will be gradually thinned as it reaches maturity. The softwood trees support
several bird species such as coal tit and the diminutive goldcrest.
Occasionally, crossbills visit to feed in the conifers, their bills perfectly
adapted to removing seeds from cones. The green woodpecker is usually very conspicuous
because of its loud laughing call. Its favourite food is the wood ant, whose
huge nests of pine leaves may be seen along the trails. In winter the
woodpeckers attempt to reach the ants by digging holes into the nests with their
beaks. Because of the dense litter of needles shed from the trees, and the
shading by the canopy, few plants can survive in these plantations. Chestn Sweet chestnut is presumed to have been introduced
into Britain by the Romans, who used the tasty nuts as nutritional food whilst
the wood was suitable for building and fencing. The extensive areas of chestnut
at Pembury were planted around one hundred years ago. Every 10 - 12 years areas
known as cants, or panels, are cut down to ground level and the wood converted
into fencing materials. New shoots spring from the cut stumps and within another
ten years or so are large enough to be cut again. This process is called
coppicing and it actually prolongs the life of the individual plants. You will notice that in some areas the chestnut has
been prevented from regrowth. This is where the best of the original heathland
flora has been found. Flowers can flourish for a short time under recentlycut
chestnut, but once the regrowth is four or five years old it begins once more to
shade out the flowers, which must survive as seed until the next cut. Look for
the delicate pink centaury amongst the young coppice, and st. john's wort with
its yellow starshaped flowers. Nightjars favour large areas of cut coppice as nest
sites, but otherwise it is rather poor habitat for birds. However, many types of
butterfly visit the clearings in spring and summer. The Stream The trail passes by a stream bordered by alder and
birch trees. These trees produce masses of tiny seeds which are very attractive
to flocks of redpoll and siskin in the winter months. Plants such as pendulous
sedge thrive in these damper areas. The stream is an important place for the
many animals and birds living in these dry woods and heaths. It is here that
they will come to drink during hot, dry weather. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Pembury Heathland.
Please keep your dogs on a lead at all times so as not to disturb the wildlife.
Please leave wild flowers for others to enjoy. Please do not ride bikes or
horses around the trail. Please do not light fires. Why not leave your car at
home? Pembury residents can enjoy the trail by walking from
home. Other people living close by may consider using public transport where and
when it is available. The following bus routes pass through Pembury: 296 Royal Tunbridge Wells to Paddock Wood 6 Royal Tunbridge Wells to Maidstone 297 Royal Tunbridge Wells to Tenterden 286 Royal Tunbridge Wells to Pembury 277 Sherwood to Pembury 206 Royal Tunbridge Wells to Five Oak Green 288 Paddock Wood to Royal Tunbridge Wells 208/209 East Peckham and Tonbridge to Pembury Railway Stations at Paddock Wood, Tonbridge and Royal
Tunbridge Wells. For more details contact Kent Public Transport
Helpline - 0345 696996
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is approximately 3 miles long, and makes a good 2 hour stroll. However, the
terrain is hilly, and the paths are often slippery under foot during wet
weather.