Old Lodge Warren - Rotherfield

Site Description

Old Lodge Warren is a long, narrow, woodland extending 2km in length and between 10m and 200m in width. It was acquired by the WT in 3 stages with the main part of the site being purchased in 1989 and subsequent extensions to the north and south being added in 1993 and 2002 respectively. The total area is now 15.25ha (36.6acres). The initial purchase was partly funded with a donation from Amnesty International. The site is sandwiched between a tributary to the River Medway (Crowborough Ghyll) to the east and a main railway line to the west. It is situated approximately 2 miles north west of Rotherfield, East Sussex, within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

This site holds a diversity of habitats including ancient and secondary semi-natural woodland, unimproved damp acid grassland and other open habitats. The long river frontage provides a high level of ecological interest with a good lower plant flora characteristic of ghyll woodlands in the High Weald. The site has a high concentration of 10 World War Two pill-boxes and a linear tank trap in sub compartment 1b. There are also the remains of a sewage pumping station in the centre of the site with 2 deep settling tanks still present.

The central part of the site is ancient semi-natural woodland with oak as the dominant canopy tree. It has a highly natural structure with large old trees, fallen and standing deadwood and some areas of open-canopied woodland. This is due to the lack of management access since the construction of the railway approximately 150 years ago. Along the river alder dominates the canopy.

The river is 3-5 m wide with a stony bed which has produced a good pool and riffle sequence. The northern part of the river is much stained by iron. Himalayan balsam can be found growing densely along the river banks. This plant is highly invasive and can cause problems by shading out native vegetation. The river has flooded several times in recent years causing much erosion of the banks. Alder coppice stools have been swept into the river and have altered the flow of the river.

Public access to this site is from the north along a public footpath from Hornshurst Wood to Sandhill Lane. Following the acquisition of the second extension (subcpt 1e) a licensed footpath from Palesgate Lane, Jarvis Brook has allowed access from the south.

Geology: Cretaceous Ashdown Beds.

Soils: stagnogleyic argillic brown earths.

Rainfall: 850-900mm per annum.