Leonard Lee 14285 99643427.

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The Seacliffe Local Nature Reserve covers approximately 20 hectares of mixed, mostly deciduous woodland, with some areas of grassland, ponds and wetland and sea cliffs. Its location on the cliff top makes it a vital part of a larger coastal wildlife corridor. It is also a stopping off point for migratory species such as summer birds and insects. The make-up of the reserve is shown in the chart below:
NATURE RESERVE

Grassland 8% Ponds 6%

Cliffs 10% Oak Woodland 47%

Beech Woodland 29%

WOODLANDS
The main habitat of the reserve is oak woodland with bramble, ivy, honeysuckle, wood sage and bracken being common woodland plants. Since the removal of sycamore trees and rhododendron bushes, other trees like hazel, hawthorn, elder and oak have started to recover. One feature of the woodland is the high proportion of old trees and standing dead wood. For this reason the reserve is noted for its hole-nesting birds eg woodpeckers and nuthatches and a wide variety of fungi. There is also a large area of beech woodland with some trees over 150 years old. Beech shade is very dense and prevents the growth of most other woodland plants, except other beech saplings. However, lower plants, such as mosses, ferns and liverworts and certain species of fungi and lichens, thrive here. The age of the beeches, with their dead hollow branches, means they are an excellent habitat for insects, hole-nesting birds and fungi.

-13.11.2011

Leonard Lee 14285 99643427.doc

PONDS
There are a number of ponds within the reserve supporting a variety of different pond creatures. The older ponds are home to plants like flag iris, water lily and bogbean. The newer ponds contain plants such as soft rush, water mint, arrowhead and ragged robin, which attract blue and red damselflies and up to 15 species of dragonfly.

GRASSLAND AREAS
The grassland areas contain a variety of low-growing flowers such as ground ivy, birds foot trefoil, speedwell and clovers. Rabbits grazing here allow more unusual plants such as common centaury and clustered clover to compete with grasses. On the edges of the meadows, plants like bramble, teasel and gorse flourish.

CLIFFS AND BEACHES

The cliffs are composed mainly of clays and sandstone. This results in soils that are well-drained, acid and sandy, leading to a natural landscape of heaths, wooded areas and sand dunes. Marram grass and sea rocket can be seen on the beach. The tides often bring in slipper limpets, bladder wrack and cuttlefish bones. Look out to sea in summer to spot black-backed gulls and sandwich terns and occasionally you may even see dolphins.

WILDLIFE TO LOOK OUT FOR

Below are more examples of plants and wildlife that can be found:
Woodland Plants Enchanters nightshade Pendulous sedge Figwort Hedge woundwort Woodland Birds Thrushes Robins Chiffchaffs Blackcaps Pond Insects Water boatmen Diving beetles Mayflies Black-tailed skimmers Grassland Butterflies Meadow brown Gatekeeper Common blue Small copper

Records of species seen in the reserve are updated regularly. If you would like to record a sighting or to see a full species list, please ask at the Information Centre. We would ask all visitors to observe the following code: Keep to the main paths to minimise the disturbance to wildlife Keep dogs on a lead Take your litter home Do not pick wild flowers please leave them for everyone to enjoy

We hope you enjoy your visit. Please note that the nature reserve is open from 7.30 am to 8.00 pm. Gates may be locked when the reserve is closed.

-23.11.2011