Long Deans

Beneath the valley floor is a mixture of geology from chalk to sandy gravel. This is reflected in the grassland types which vary from neutral grassland.on the north west facing bank, composed of cowslip, red clover, ox-eye daisy, creeping buttercup, lesser trefoil, selfheal and yarrow to the south east facing bank which has flowers more reminiscent of chalk grassland including burnet saxifrage, salad burnet, restharrow and occasional orchids. Within the valley bottom are a number of old oak and ash trees which green woodpeckers and kestrels can regularly be seen. The woodland supports a multitude of birds including nuthatches, woodpeckers and sparrowhawks. Foxes and badgers are also active throughout the year.

The woodland is semi-natural in origin with beech and wild cherry trees having been selected to grow in the past. Ash trees have now moved in naturally and there are many young ash saplings. The gales of 1987 have created wind blown areas. These are natural glades and young trees are responding to the increase in light by growing in the resultant gaps.