A large estate (about 2000 ha) that straddles the Herts-Bucks border. Ashridge has a very high nature conservation value, with some of the largest areas of semi-natural habitat in the Chilterns. Excellent chalk downland, chalk scrub, commonland with neutral grassland, small areas of acid grassland. One of the greatest areas of mixed and deciduous woodland of any NT lowland estate, with hundreds of veteran trees, mainly beech and oak but also field maple, ash, yew. Saproxylic fauna is exceptional, beetles especially (UK top 20). Significant bat populations including maternity roosts of barbastelle. Some arable reversion fields, plus normal arable with hedges. Several Ponds. SAC and SSSI designations.
Last modified:
Thursday, December 7, 2023 - 10:14
Size:
2 000.00hectares
Species total:
3557
Ranking breakdown
Breakdown of species counts by category
Algae:
2
Slime Moulds:
13
Lichens:
65
Fungi other than Lichens, including fungoid organisms:
576
Bryophytes:
30
Vascular Plants:
361
Molluscs:
28
Annelid worms:
4
Platyhelminth worms:
1
Arachnids:
20
Myriapods:
6
Crustaceans:
20
Insects: Odonata:
15
Insects: orthopteroids:
10
Insects: hemipteroids:
134
Insects: Hymenoptera:
131
Insects: Coleoptera:
643
Insects: Diptera:
762
Insects: Lepidoptera: butterflies:
40
Insects: Lepidoptera: moths:
565
Insects: remaining small orders:
7
Fish:
1
Reptiles:
3
Amphibians:
5
Birds:
90
Mammals:
25