Dunster Forest is a varied mix of conifers grown for timber, native oak woodlands and veteran trees, all managed in a sustainable way that safeguards the forest for future generations to enjoy..
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Dunster Forest
The Dunster Forest is largely comprised of a mixture of coniferous trees (such as larch, Douglas-fir, spruce), but with some sizable areas of native broadleaf woodland. Many people perceive coniferous woodlands as devoid of life, but the Dunster Forest’s well spaced trees and small clearings provide valuable habitat for all sorts of species.
Key forest species to look out for:
Fallow Deer (Dama dama) - A woodland deer with a variable coat colour sometimes reddish yellow with white spots or occasionally black. The males carry large antlers which are ‘palmated’ (like a hand). Both sexes have a bold black and white rump which a black stripe down a long tail. This species was introduced into the UK in 1244. The deer in Dunster Forest are feral deer that originate from a domestic herd originally enclosed by the Luttrell family in the Deer Park. Look out for fallow deer during dawn or dusk hours all year round.
Red Wood Ant (Formica rufus) - A species of ant that is relatively common in this part of southern Britain, but not so elsewhere in the UK. These large red and black ‘wood ants’ particularly favour conifer forests, where they are able to build large nests (up to a metre high) on the edges of tracks and forest rides. In the Dunster Forest, huge colonies, in excess of 100,000 members, search a radius of several hundreds of meters from the nest looking for small invertebrates and other food items. Look out for the large, distinctive nests in sunny spots throughout the forest all year round, but particularly when they are more active during warmer months.
Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) - A well camouflaged, long-winged, long-tailed cuckoo like bird, found on heathland fringes and conifer clearfell sites, where it nests on the ground amongst bracken and scrub. Nightjars are known on Black Hill, Hopcott Common and amongst clearings in the Dunster Forest. Listen out for their conspicuous ‘churring’ song, which can be heard at dusk from May to August.
Exmoor National Park Biodiversity Action Plan
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