Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Aspen Spring
Borough: Bromley
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 1.85 ha

Description

Suburban housing surrounds this small wood in Chelsfield. The site is well used by local people, particularly children.

Wildlife

The site consists of an area of grassland with scattered ash trees and woodland with a range of woody species. The grassland area has a band of field madder, an uncommon species for London. Mature woodland can be found on the western side, where pedunculate oak and ash dominate. Large field maples suggest the woodland is of some age and this is reflected in ground flora including ancient woodland indicator species such as bluebell, wood melick, dog's mercury and yellow archangel. Large areas of cow parsley are found in less shaded areas of the predominantly ash secondary wood to the east. Other tree species adding variety to the site include wild cherry, beech and whitebeam. To the north-east there is an area of chalk grassland and scrub. The grassland is currently intensively mown but contains abundant wild marjoram, common knapweed, ox-eye daisy and field scabious. The scrub contains wayfaring-tree, wild privet, buckthorn, field maple and hawthorn with trees of ash and sycamore. Narrow bands of long grass along the edge of the scrub contain upright brome, salad burnet, wild marjoram and ox-eye daisy.

Facilities

No information available
Field maple in flower © Mike Waite

Field maple in flower © Mike Waite

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More information on GiGL’s SINC dataset can be found here.

Additional information, including other site designations and species recorded onsite and nearby, can be provided in community and client data search reports. Request information here.