Wooded slopes, at sunset, on the north back-slope of Leith Hill, Surrey, England.
Commentary.
The North and South Downs Chalk ecosystem,
either side of The Weald, is a sublime and beautiful environment.
The Weald is a series of Sandstone Ridges and Clay Vales.
Over millions of years river, Spring and Periglacial meltwater
has worn away the top layer of a Chalk Dome,
reaching, perhaps, an altitude of 4,000 feet.
Under that, Upper and Lower Greensand has been eroded,
revealing in places, layers of Gault and Atherfield Clays,
particularly in the base of valleys.
The name “Weald” comes from the Saxon word, “Walden,”
meaning “forest” or “woodland.”
When the Romans invaded 2,000 years ago
and right through the Anglo-Saxon “Dark Ages,”
the area between the Downs was densely wooded.
Today, as much as 30% of “The Weald”
is still forest and woodland copse.
It is very different to the Chalk Downs,
having Acidic rather than Alkaline soil.
The Chalk acts like an Aquifer, permeating some water,
but retaining enough, to allow lush grass turf to thrive.
However, the easily eroded Sandstone retains little.
Water leaches through the sandy
soil, taking most nutrients with it.
Therefore, on the Sandstone ridges only hardy
Pines, Heather, Ferns and Bramble can survive the poor soil.
Where erosion has worn through the Sandstone
underlying clay retains water and much more nutrients,
making grass, fodder and arable crops
possible, in strips, along the valleys.
The Pine-forest pictured here,
is radiated by a setting sun.
This colourful, peaceful habitat is one that I have
grown up with and loved for many years.
Wooded slopes, at sunset, on the north back-slope of Leith Hill, Surrey, England.
Commentary.
The North and South Downs Chalk ecosystem,
either side of The Weald, is a sublime and beautiful environment.
The Weald is a series of Sandstone Ridges and Clay Vales.
Over millions of years river, Spring and Periglacial meltwater
has worn away the top layer of a Chalk Dome,
reaching, perhaps, an altitude of 4,000 feet.
Under that, Upper and Lower Greensand has been eroded,
revealing in places, layers of Gault and Atherfield Clays,
particularly in the base of valleys.
The name “Weald” comes from the Saxon word, “Walden,”
meaning “forest” or “woodland.”
When the Romans invaded 2,000 years ago
and right through the Anglo-Saxon “Dark Ages,”
the area between the Downs was densely wooded.
Today, as much as 30% of “The Weald”
is still forest and woodland copse.
It is very different to the Chalk Downs,
having Acidic rather than Alkaline soil.
The Chalk acts like an Aquifer, permeating some water,
but retaining enough, to allow lush grass turf to thrive.
However, the easily eroded Sandstone retains little.
Water leaches through the sandy
soil, taking most nutrients with it.
Therefore, on the Sandstone ridges only hardy
Pines, Heather, Ferns and Bramble can survive the poor soil.
Where erosion has worn through the Sandstone
underlying clay retains water and much more nutrients,
making grass, fodder and arable crops
possible, in strips, along the valleys.
The Pine-forest pictured here,
is radiated by a setting sun.
This colourful, peaceful habitat is one that I have
grown up with and loved for many years.