Toys Hill

Toys Hill, originally uploaded by G-andy.

First stop on my tour of the 40 interesting places on the Kent Downs was Toys Hill.

The Hurricane of 1987 claimed victim to many trees but here it was decided that instead of clearing the fallen trees, they would be left where they fell. This has helped to create habitat for a diverse abundance of fungi and insects on the forest floor. Interestingly, despite having been blown over in the storm, many of these trees have continued to grow shoots along their lateral length.

This shot shows one of the fallen trees and the roots of another with heavy moss growth.