Fungi
Dormice
Dragonflies
Rare Heathland
Future Conservation

Bedgebury Pinetum boasts tree specimens from Taiwan, Chile, Japan, Argentina, Tasmania and Western Australia to name but a few and includes a cluster of endangered Californian redwoods, only 75 years old and already 120 feet tall.

Bedgebury has Britain’s tallest cypress, at over 135ft tall and can claim the tallest tree in the county, ‘The Old Man of Kent’, which is a giant silver fir, planted in 1847, measuring 165ft.

The success of the forestry industry in the UK owes much to Bedgebury, as one of three important sites involved in cross-breeding and trials to decide which species are best suited to different soils and weather conditions.

Successful seed propagation is part of the conservation work undertaken at Bedgebury. For example seeds taken from a monkey-puzzle tree in the grounds were propagated in the greenhouses. The original trees were grown from seeds collected from a forest of monkey-puzzle trees in Chile, which have since been felled for agriculture thus ensuring the continuity of this prehistoric tree family.

Conifers have been used over the years for a variety of medicinal purposes - the needles of one tree were used as a decongestant by Native North Americans. After chewing they would spit them out into a perforated bark bag which they wore around their neck so the vapours could clear their sinuses. One conifer tastes of fruit cake another has the fresh citrus tang of oranges.

Mushrooms do not need much light to grow and are usually found under trees, being particularly fond of the rotting leaves at the bases of conifer trees, making Bedgebury an ideal habitat to look for fungi. There are 975 varieties of fungi growing around the Pinetum and Bedgebury holds a series of seasonal and popular Fungi Foray events over September and October.

Events are held between April and November to check the Dormice Nests for offspring.

A survey carried out by rangers at Bedgebury has recorded 19 different species of dragonfly. Species ranging from the common darter to the golden-ringed dragonfly can be seen at Bedgebury. The golden-ringed dragonfly is one of the largest and most spectacular dragonflies that is easily recognized by its dark body and bright yellow rings on the abdomen. Although scarce in the South this species is encouraged by the rare heathland habitat at Bedgebury and the fast flowing, clean rivers and streams.

Dragonfly make spectacular photographic opportunities when they stop and rest on the plants that grow near the waters edge.

A recent survey carried out at Bedgebury Pinetum suggests that Bedgebury's heathlands could be amongst the best in the south-east.

The survey has uncovered many unusual and rare flowers including the common dodder, which is difficult to see as it grows in small clusters. The plant bears pink flowers which grow on red twining stems and can often be found growing with heather.

Future conservation plans include a dead wood habitat for stag beetle together with the protection and enhancement of badger setts. Habitat creation and conservation measures for birds, which include nightjar, owl and lesser-spotted woodpecker, include the provision of nesting boxes. The song thrush will be helped by the increase in scrub and hedgerow habitats. There will be help for declining species of bats by the provision of bat boxes. A small area of sphagnum bog will be developed at the edge of the new visitor centre lake to encourage county-rare plants such as bog asphodel and sundew and similar species.