Dartmoor National Park Authority
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Holne Woodlands SSSI (SX7271)
This site covers 1007 hectares along the Dart Valley and is important for its extensive area of ancient semi-natural oak woodland which supports a nationally important array of lichens and many species of breeding birds.
The dominant canopy species is sessile oak with birch, hazel, ash, sycamore and beech all present. Alder and willow are found alongside the river. The ground flora in the darker and damper north facing slopes consists of many species of fern including scaly male fern, lady fern and lemon-scented fern. Royal fern can be seen along the fringes of the River Dart and Tunbridge filmy fern occurs on some rocks in the river.
This site is endowed with a high lichen interest including three species of lungwort lichens as a result of continued wooded cover for centuries and being far from sources of pollution. Nesting birds include, wood warbler, pied flycatcher and redstart.
Page updated 27 August 2009
