Combe Haven SSSI
 

 

The Combe Haven valley contains a wide diversity of habitats including floodplain grassland, fens, ditches, woodland and neutral grassland. ACTA has surveyed the valley over several years in order to set up a database for a proposed country park and nature reserve.

The wildlife of the ditches is one of the most significant features of the site. Changes in management and water regime have been shown to reduce the range of aquatic plants and invertebrates.

One of the reasons for the designation of the SSSI was the presence of breeding wading birds. They have now declined to very low numbers and the reasons for this were investigated.

Surveys included the following:
National Vegetation Classification
dormice
Great Crested Newts
badgers
bats
reptiles
breeding and wintering birds
aquatic invertebrates.

Other SSSI work
Old Park, Dover
Bexhill - Hastings Link Road
Scotney Castle Estate


 


 
 
One of the reasons for the designation of the SSSI was the presence of breeding wading birds. They have now declined to very low numbers and the reasons for this were investigated

 
The mosaic of wetland habitats supports a rich
dragonfly fauna
Plotting fen and wet grassland communities was essential in identifying the ecological trends on the site
 
Although there is a rich aquatic flora, surveys showed that species such as the Marsh Violet have declined as a result of management changes in recent years

 
Early Purple-orchids are a feature of the woods,
copses and verges in the area
 

 
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