Chiddingfold Forest
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
  Shown within West Sussex
| |
| Area of Search | Surrey & West Sussex |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | SU994310 |
| Coordinates | 51°04′11″N 0°34′50″W / 51.069621°N 0.580428°WCoordinates: 51°04′11″N 0°34′50″W / 51.069621°N 0.580428°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 543.9 ha (1,344 acres) |
| Notification | 1975 |
| Natural England website | |
Chiddingfold Forest is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in south west Surrey and west Sussex, England. It lies near Chiddingfold and Dunsfold. The Forestry Commission owns and/or manages some 830 hectares (2,100 acres) of woodland in the forest complex of which 543.9 hectares (1,344 acres) is designated SSSI. It is one of fifteen SSSIs lying the borough of Waverley.
The site lies within the Low Weald natural area and Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The rare pearl-bordered fritillary grows in the forest. This is an important butterfly egg-laying area. There are also rare moths in this locality including: the Argent & Sable, Common Fan-foot, White-line snout, Waved carpet and Drab looper moth.[1]
Chiddingfold Forest is home to the Bechstein's Bat. Three maternity colonies have been identified which have at least eighty breeding females.[2]
Fir Tree Copse, which lies within the forest is particularly noted for rare moths, lichen and fungi. The smaller plants include Enchanter’s Nightshade, Wood Speedwell, Lily of the Valley and wild daffodils.[3]
References
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