The Clearing Area Conclusions

The most prolific ground level plant is the moss Polytrichum formosum, which visibly forms large "carpets" within the area.  With less than half the area coverage, Silver Birch is the most dominant tall ground cover plant.  However, most of the tree specimens are very young with mean height of 38.6cm and are growing closely to each other in substantial groups.  Close proximity of individuals encourages rapid growth.  Left unmanaged this pioneering species could pose a threat to less vigorous native species in the future, by shading out the light. 

The Clearance area has 27 species, equalling that of the Stony area and therefore being joint highest across the Wet Woodland.  One of the reasons for this may be that both dry and wet areas are included in the Clearing, so there are dry tolerant and wet tolerant plants present.

The mature tree population is dominated by Silver Birch (Betula pendula) and Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) which together make up nearly three-quarters of all the trees in this area.  There are more species (8) of tall tree in the Clearance than there are in any other area.  However the total number of trees is less than that for any other Wet Woodland area.