The green is made up of more than 8 hectares of unimproved grassland, which is irreplaceable and of regional and national importance.  Over 97% of the UK’s species-rich grassland has been lost in less than a century. Grassland meadows now cover just 1% of land in the UK. There are also around 2 hectares of woodland, and a quarter-acre pond.

Giles Groome, Consultant Ecologist was commissioned by Abinger Parish Council to conduct a botanical survey and Jonty Denton, Consultant Ecologist an entomological survey of Forest Green during spring and summer 2020.

Over 540 species of invertebrate were recorded during the entomological survey, including 18 that are nationally rare and scarce. Six species of dragonfly and damselflies were recorded, for example. Over 280 species of vascular plants were also recorded, including 7 rare/scarce/threatened species. The rare and protected Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) larvae and eggs were recorded here during the 21st May 2020 invertebrate survey. Seasonal ditches add to overall site diversity, providing suitable habitat for a range of wetland plants not found elsewhere.

It has taken many hundreds of years for the biodiversity of the Green to reach this level. It’s vitally important not to over-manage the Green – in particular the one annual hay cut is a critical part of maintaining the meadow its ecology.

Find out more about the process of maintaining the green here: Green Management

Information on Some of the Species Found in Forest Green

Here are some of the wildlife that can be seen in Forest Green. Please submit your sightings and photos and we can add them to the website. The website also has a live feed of birds currently visiting Forest Green.

	Broad Bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)   Widespread and common throughout Wales and England, apart from in northern England. Broad-bodied Chaser has increased in occupancy steadily in England and Wales since the 1970s; is becoming more common in the north and can now be found in a few sites in south Scotland.
	Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) The tightly packed, thistle-like purple flower heads of common knapweed bloom on all kinds of grasslands. Also regularly called black knapweed, this plant attracts clouds of butterflies.
	Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum) On first glance, the meadow thistle looks a bit like a knapweed – it’s not as prickly as other thistles and only carries one pinky-purple flower head. It can be found in damp meadows and grasslands.